KIEV (Sputnik) – An International Committee of the Red Cross team has to join in the efforts to release prisoners in southeast Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko said Saturday.
“We must ensure the immediate release of hostages. The International Committee of the Red Cross must join these efforts,” Poroshenko said in an interview with STB television.
The Ukrainian head of state said the latest round of telephone talks with leaders of the so-called Normandy format gave way to considerable progress.
Poroshenko spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande late on Thursday.
He added that the first humanitarian and logistic centers could be opened at entry and exit checkpoints in Donbass region on August 24. The centers are expected to allow local residents purchase affordable food and medicine, as well as use mobile banking facilities.