Russia interested in unhindered evacuation of Ukrainian civilians, delivery of humanitarian aid - Lavrov

MOSCOW. March 24 (Interfax) - Russia is interested in lifting artificial barriers to resolving humanitarian issues in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"We are interested in finding solutions to these problems, which are piling up in Ukraine, and in lifting artificial barriers to the evacuation of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid," Lavrov said on Thursday, during the opening of talks with International Committee of the Red Cross President Peter Maurer.

In his turn, Maurer said that the ICRC has filed an application for opening an office in Rostov-on-Don to be able to provide humanitarian aid to Ukrainian residents more efficiently.

Maurer said he would like to gain Russia's support with regard to enhancing the logistical processes in Russia to improve the ICRC's work in Donbas and other parts of Ukraine that are under the Russian Armed Forces' control.

To this end, the ICRC has applied to open an office in Rostov-on-Don, which could be a good starting point to initiate such work, Maurer said.