“Now that the multifaceted efforts to settle all aspects of the initiative to provide humanitarian assistance to the population of the south-east of Ukraine has entered the final stage, the Foreign Ministry of Russia is strongly urging the warring sides to cease fire immediately,” the statement said.

MOSCOW, August 14, /ITAR-TASS/. The Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday urged the warring sides in Ukraine to cease fire immediately in order to guarantee the security of the humanitarian convoy for the eastern regions of Ukraine.

“This must be done in order to guarantee the security of the upcoming humanitarian mission. A ceasefire is required by the appalling situation in the South-East of Ukraine,” the ministry said.

It also called on the warring parties in Ukraine to show political will and alleviate the suffering of people in the south-east of the country.

The passage of the humanitarian convoy to the south-eastern regions of Ukraine will be a test of adequacy for Kiev, Alexander Brechalov, a Public Chamber member, said.

Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council spokesperson Andrei Lysenko said earlier the Ukrainian army would ensure the safe passage of the convoy. However, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov wrote on his Facebook page that the Russian humanitarian convoy would not be let go through the Kharkov region as was initially intended.

“It will be a test of adequacy as people’s lives are at stake, and playing with ‘we will let them in or we won’t let them in’ is the lot of the weak,” Brechalov said.

“I do hope that it will all work out,” he added.

The convoy of 262 automobiles is carrying over 1,800 tonnes of relief supplies including power generators, foodstuffs, water, baby’s food, medical supplies and sleeping bags.