Putin says Russian troops provided escape routes in all fighting zones in Ukraine

MOSCOW. March 3 (Interfax) - The Russian troops have provided humanitarian corridors at all areas of combat clashes in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin said.

"Our servicemen provided corridors in all zones of clashes, without an exception, provided transport so that peaceful people and foreign citizens can travel to a safe place" Putin told the Security Council on Thursday.

"Nationalists would not let them do it. Moreover, they now tell foreign citizens to contact their authorities and these in turn should contact the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry - effectively, simply throwing them into the fire," Putin said.