MOSCOW, March 24. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that at talks with ICRC President Peter Maurer on Thursday, he had discussed the use of civilians as human shields by the Kiev authorities and nationalists.

"We discussed in detail today the political component of the issue. That the Kiev authorities and nationalists controlling various localities are trying to prevent the free exodus of civilians, trying to use them as human shields, that they deploy heavy arms to city neighborhoods and take other action that is directly at variance with international humanitarian law," Lavrov told a news conference after the talks.

The top diplomat said that the talks had also focused on the humanitarian needs of the population in the crisis around Ukraine. He also reiterated that the program of Maurer’s visit to Moscow included a meeting at the Russian Defense Ministry, due in the afternoon.

"Concrete issues will be discussed there related to the access, delivery of humanitarian aid, and of course, the need to evacuate civilians, who must have a chance to leave there where they deem it suitable," Lavrov added.

He said that the Russian side had listened to recommendations from ICRC partners as to the solutions they deem important to address more efficiently the problems of humanitarian access, the functioning of humanitarian corridors.

"Mr. Maurer prepared these recommendations following his trip to Kiev. We welcomed the readiness of the Red Cross to channel the available resources to help the people in need in Ukraine, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics," Lavrov went on to say.

"And we also note that the Red Cross traditionally tries to implement its functions of an unbiased and independent mediator within the framework of its mandate," the top diplomat stressed.