(VOVworld) – Russia on Tuesday appealed for an emergency meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)’s Standing Committee to present a draft resolution on settling conflicts, resuming the ceasefire, and improving humanitarian activities in eastern Ukraine.

The OSCE will submit Russia's proposal to its standing committee on Thursday. (Photo: OSCE)

Andrei Kelin, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE, said that Moscow was deeply concerned that a plan by the Kiev government to besiege Donetsk and Lugansk would worsen the humanitarian situation there. Russia has proposed creating humanitarian corridors to provide food and gasoline for civilians fleeing from the battlefield. The OSCE is considering Russia’s proposal and will submit it to the committee on Thursday.
Under pressure from its Western allies, Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko said that he was ready to hold talks with anti-government protesters in the eastern provinces if they disarmed. He added that the Kiev government would not resume a ceasefire or hold any fresh elections if the militants did not lay down their arms.