War in Ukraine – Ukraine and Russia agree on humanitarian corridors

Ukraine and Russia announced at the end of the second session of talks on Thursday that they had agreed to arrange “humanitarian corridors” to evacuate civilians from the war zones.

“The second round of talks is over. Unfortunately, the expected results for Ukraine are not yet available. There is only one solution to regulate humanitarian corridors, ”Mikhaïlo Podoliak, an adviser to the Ukrainian president and a member of his country’s delegation, wrote on Twitter.

“The only thing I can say is that we discussed the humanitarian aspects in detail because many cities are currently surrounded by Russian forces,” he said. He was also concerned about the “dramatic situation with the possibility of food, medicine, expulsion.”

According to a report later read by Mikhaïlo Podoliak, Moscow and Kyiv “will set up humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians, as well as for the supply of medicine and food to areas where fighting is most violent.” These include “the possibility of a temporary ceasefire in the areas where it will take place during the exit period.”

Meanwhile, the head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky pointed out that the talks focused on humanitarian, military and “future political solution to the conflict” issues. According to him, there is a “mutual understanding” at “certain points”.

“The main issue resolved today is to rescue civilians who have found themselves in the conflict zone,” he added, affirming the “humanitarian corridors” plan. “I think this is a significant improvement,” he said.

“In the future, the parties will take all necessary steps so that people can leave these areas safely, and nothing more important,” said Leonid Slutsky, another member of the Russian delegation.

The talks took place in the Belarusian region of Brest, in Belovezhskaya Poutsa, near the Polish border. The first meeting on Monday ended without any definite progress.