Turkish, UN officials discuss humanitarian crisis in Ukraine

By Mehmet Tosun

ANKARA (AA) - Senior Turkish and UN officials on Monday discussed a plan to establish a humanitarian contact group on Ukraine and the current crisis in the war-torn country.

During a meeting at the presidential complex in Turkiye’s capital Ankara, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin and UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths discussed the current situation in Ukraine and humanitarian assistance to the people.

The plan to establish the humanitarian contact group on Ukraine, which will include officials from Russia, Ukraine, the UN, and Turkiye, was reviewed in depth.

The importance of Turkiye’s diplomacy in opening humanitarian corridors in the war zones in Ukraine and the evacuating civilians was also stressed during the meeting.

The need to reach a cease-fire and make progress in peace talks to end Ukraine's present humanitarian crisis was emphasized and satisfaction was expressed for the evacuations from Mariupol.

Meanwhile, Turkiye and the UN agreed to maintain close coordination and cooperation in the prevention of humanitarian crises.

*Writing by Seda Sevencan