MOSCOW, August 12 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin told his French counterpart Francois Hollande Tuesday about Russia's a joint effort with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to deliver humanitarian aid to residents of war-torn southeastern Ukraine.
In a phone conversation that took place earlier in the day, the presidents “noted the importance of efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
“Putin told [Hollande] about the Russian side’s practical measures, taken in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross in order to achieve this goal. Both sides underlined the principal importance of ceasing hostilities and reaching a political settlement to Ukraine’s internal problems as soon as possible,” the statement reads.
Earlier Tuesday, a source told RIA Novosti that the 280-truck convoy with 2,000 tons of Russian humanitarian aid is expected to arrive at the Ukrainian border Wednesday, August 13. The aid includes 62 tons of baby food, 54 tons of medication and 12,000 sleeping bags, among other necessities.
Russia initially proposed sending an international humanitarian mission to the region last Tuesday at the UN Security Council.
On Monday, Russia and Ukraine said in a statement that they have agreed to a Red Cross-led humanitarian mission to the war-torn Ukrainian region of Luhansk, where food and energy supplies are running short.
The ICRC showed support for Russia’s proposal and said it is awaiting details from Moscow on providing humanitarian assistance to eastern Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on the West not to impede the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to eastern Ukrainian regions.
