MOSCOW, May 27. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s Public Chamber urges Kiev to immediately stop its punitive operation in Donetsk and sit down at the negotiating table.

“The Russian Public Chamber is closely watching the developments in Donetsk, where fierce confrontation is underway between the Ukrainian troops and groups of civilians,” Vladislav Grib, the first deputy chairman of the Russian Public Chamber, said. “We demand that the Kiev regime immediately stops the punitive operation. It is vital to stop the criminal actions that have already claimed the lives of peaceful civilians and to sit down at the negotiating table.”

The Russian Public Chamber also calls on the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) to waste no time and begin to “realize its functions".

“Number one step is to ensure security of women and children. The Russian Public Chamber is in contact with the Russian Foreign Ministry on this issue,” Grib said.

The Public Chamber said it was ready to offer all-round aid and support to people hurt in combat operation in Donetsk and other settlements. For these purposes, the Chamber set up a coordinating headquarters on the situation in Ukraine.