OREANDA-NEWS. April 22, 2015. The International Committee of the Red Cross is willing to expand its activity in Ukraine for the solution of complicated humanitarian situation in the occupied territories. Prospects of further cooperation have been discussed in the course of the meeting between President Petro Poroshenko and President of the ICRC Peter Maurer.

The Head of State has emphasized: “Ukraine appreciates the ICRC’s willingness to provide assistance to the victims of the conflict”.

The President has noted the importance of Ukraine’s cooperation with the ICRC for the delivery of the international humanitarian aid to the people living in the occupied territories of Donbas. The Head of State has emphasized that the Government of Ukraine was constantly cooperating with the ICRC. Earlier, at the meeting with the ICRC mission, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Hennadiy Zubko has discussed the need for accelerating the procedures of registration of humanitarian cargoes from the ICRC.

Peter Maurer has noted that the ICRC was ready to increase the number of trucks with humanitarian cargo significantly. According to him, the ICRC’s activity in Ukraine is among 5 biggest and top-priority operations of the Committee in the world. In 2015, the ICRC’s budget in Ukraine will amount to USD 84.5 million.

The President has called on the ICRC to use all opportunities to increase the volume of the international humanitarian aid for the people of Ukraine that found themselves in difficult conditions due to the aggression of Russia.

The Head of State has informed on the fulfillment of the Minsk agreements emphasizing that Ukraine fully complies with its commitments.

President Maurer has also noted that since the establishment of the ceasefire regime, which is not guaranteed everywhere, unfortunately, the ICRC had received broader access to the occupied territories for the provision of humanitarian aid.

The Head of State has touched upon the issue of non-fulfillment of the item of the Minsk agreements concerning the liberation of hostages, particularly Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko, who has been kidnapped over 10 months ago and is still kept in Russian prison due to the trumped up charges. The President has urged the ICRC to intensify its work in order to liberate Nadiya Savchenko immediately.

The parties have particularly discussed conditions in which prisoners are kept in the occupied territories.

President Maurer noted that the ICRC was willing to participate in the process of liberation of all hostages more actively, particularly in their secure transportation and the search of missing persons.

The parties have also discussed social support to the residents of Donbas, particularly those who had passed registration outside the occupied territories. “We are doing everything possible to minimize suffering of people and provide money to them,” the Head of State said.

The meeting was also attended by President’s wife Maryna Poroshenko.