Zelensky, Maurer discuss access to Ukrainian captives in Crimea and Donbas

“The interlocutors agreed on the importance of ensuring access for the ICRC staff to the places in Donbas, Crimea and the Russian Federation where detainees are kept, inter alia, following the Trilateral Contact Group meeting held on March 11,” the press service of the Head of State reports.

The ICRC President thanked the Ukrainian party for taking steps to ensure access to the detained persons for the ICRC representatives. He pledged to take personal control over the issue of access of the Red Cross staff members to the detainees, as agreed in the Normandy meeting.

In turn, the President of Ukraine praised the ICRC's role as a neutral mediator in the transfer of citizens of our country detained in the Russian Federation, which took place on December 29, 2019. The interlocutors agreed to coordinate further efforts to exchange detained persons.

The parties also discussed the importance of cooperation aimed to search for Ukrainians who have disappeared in the territory of ORDLO and occupied Crimea.

The parties also discussed the security situation in Donbas. Peter Maurer praised Ukraine's efforts to achieve peace in the region, and Volodymyr Zelensky thanked for the humanitarian assistance provided to the people affected by war and to the internally displaced persons.

"I thank the ICRC for its significant contribution to the humanitarian demining of the liberated territories," the President of Ukraine said.

Peter Maurer announced the plans for further activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Ukraine, emphasizing that cooperation with our country is and will remain one of the priorities of the agenda of the organization he chairs.

The parties agreed that the visit of the ICRC President to Ukraine, in particular for personal acquaintance with the humanitarian situation in Donbas, will take place as soon as possible.

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