Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on militias in Ukraine's south-east to open a humanitarian corridor for encircled Ukrainian servicemen, a statement by the Kremlin press service said on Friday according to Itar-Tass news agency.
Putin also urged Ukrainian authorities to immediately cease fire and sit down at negotiating table together with representatives of the embattled Donbass region to settle problems in a peaceful way.
"I am calling on militia forces to open a humanitarian corridor for encircled Ukrainian servicemen in order to avoid senseless casualties, enable them to get out of the area of combat operations unimpededly and reunite with their families; bring them back to their mothers, wives, and children, and urgently to give medical aid to those wounded in the military operation," Putin said, noting that the majority of Ukrainian servicemen who were involved in the operation and found themselves surrounded acted not on their free will but were executing orders.
Putin said the militias have achieved substantial success in foiling Kiev's military operation "which constitutes a mortal danger to the population of Donbass and which has already resulted in tremendous casualties among civilians."
"The Russian side is ready and will continue to provide humanitarian aid for the population of Donbass who suffer from a humanitarian disaster," he added.
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