Evacuation of people from Azovstal and food crisis: what Zelenskyy talked about with UN Secretary-General
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres in Kyiv. They discussed many important topics – ending the war in Ukraine, a possible food crisis, the need to evacuate people from the Azovstal plant in Mariupol, the creation of a special international tribunal for war crimes of the Russian Federation.
The war in Ukraine and the food crisis
Stopping Russia’s war against Ukraine is imperative to prevent a food crisis in the world and save dozens of countries from starvation. The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that together with the UN Secretary-General they had discussed rising food prices, that cause famine for at least 47 million people in 81 countries this year.
The Head of State noted that Ukraine has sufficient potential to prevent a crisis and stabilize the global market. Our state has all the goods that can be supplied from ports in Odessa, Mykolaiv, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions.
– But part of Russia’s aggressive policy is the blockade of Ukrainian ports and deliberate destruction of our production base. Therefore, stopping Russia’s war against Ukraine and restoring peace is imperative to prevent a food crisis and save dozens of countries from famine and political chaos, – Zelenskyy said.
The evacuation of people from Azovstal is necessary
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine is ready for urgent talks to evacuate people from the Azovstal plant in Mariupol.
– Ukraine is ready for immediate talks to evacuate people from Azovstal and implement the agreements immediately. We also expect humane treatment of these people by the Russian Federation, – added Zelenskyy.
He noted that despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s words about the alleged cessation of hostilities in Mariupol, the territory of Azovstal continues to be shelled by the Russian military.
– We need to use every chance to achieve peace. It is important that today the UN Secretary-General personally witnessed Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine visiting the suburbs of Kyiv, – said the Head of State.
International tribunal against the aggressor
The President added that during the meeting with the UN Secretary-General they also had discussed the establishment of a special international tribunal for war crimes of the Russian Federation.
– For its part, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission must continue to document all crimes committed by the Russian Federation and the Russian military. The Russian invasion has brought as many crimes against civilians as Europe has not seen since World War II, – the President of Ukraine added.
