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Russian Foreign Ministry calls on Red Cross to help end human rights violations in Ukraine

"Special emphasis was placed on the importance of ensuring proper treatment of Russian servicemen held in custody and prevention of attacks on civilian persons and facilities," the statement says

MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin and International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric met in Geneva to discuss the need for the committee to apply pressure so the Kiev regime ends violations of humanitarian law.

"Special attention was paid to engagement with the committee in the context of the Ukrainian crisis. The Russian side emphasized the necessity of the committee's exacting work with the Kiev regime in order to stop its gross violations of international humanitarian law," the ministry said in a statement. "Special emphasis was placed on the importance of ensuring proper treatment of Russian servicemen held in custody and prevention of attacks on civilian persons and facilities."

According to the statement, Vershinin and Spoljaric discussed strengthening international humanitarian law and its adaptation to the current realities of armed conflicts. Additionally, the sides reviewed upcoming international events aimed at the development of cooperation in the protection of civilians and bolstering respect for international humanitarian law.

"Mutual determination was expressed to continue and develop constructive cooperation between Russia and the ICRC in order to improve the effectiveness of response to humanitarian challenges," the ministry stated.

The sides also discussed the dramatic humanitarian situation in the Middle East, including in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria, with a focus on the need for de-escalation in the region and ensuring sustainable humanitarian access to people in need without politicization and discrimination on ethnic, religious and other grounds, according to the ministry.

"There was a substantive discussion of the challenges faced by humanitarian organizations operating in the conflict zone," the statement said.

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