KYIV. Jan 24 (Interfax) - Ukraine's Minister for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons, Vadym Chernysh, and the United States' Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations, Kurt Volker, have discussed the humanitarian situation and the needs of the people living in eastern Ukraine.
"The people living along the contact line and in the uncontrolled territories face daily problems that force them to rapidly reduce the resources [they use] to feed themselves, heat their homes, and buy medicine. To help the affected population, the Ukrainian government constantly maintains efficient interaction with other countries and international organizations providing humanitarian aid to the citizens living in eastern Ukraine on both sides of the line of contact line and provides such organizations access to the uncontrolled territories," Chernysh said.
He also briefed the U.S. diplomat on the results of the implementation in 2017 of a plan to enforce elements of the state's policy regarding the Donbas territories outside Kyiv's control. He reiterated that Ukraine is not abandoning citizens living in those territories and will be doing all it can for their reintegration.
Volker said that, despite all obstacles, efforts should not be spared to help people living in those areas and maintain communication with them.
Chernysh also highlighted the importance of communication and the development of strategies, such as the successful communication projects the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has pursued in the Ukrainian radio and television industry.
Volker later discussed the Donbas reintegration legislation passed recently by the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada with Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov.
"Met with Secretary of the NSDC Oleksandr Turchynov to discuss reintegration bill and the need to protect the rights and well-being of Ukrainian citizens living in the Donbas+the need for peaceful resolution of the conflict," Volker wrote on Twitter.
It was reported earlier that Volker had arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday. He canceled his trip to Donbas because of adverse weather conditions.
Volker intends to meet with Kremlin aide Vladislav Surkov in Dubai on January 26.