You're reading: International Committee o the Red Cross should confirm its readiness to deliver Russian aid to point of destination

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has said that as of Aug. 20 evening Ukrainian border guards did not conduct any checks of Russia's Ukraine-bound humanitarian aid convoy.

“The Ukrainian side will launch this work as soon as it receives final confirmation from the International Committee of the Red Cross concerning its readiness to deliver the cargo to the point of destination. Among other matters, the ICRC, which has assumed responsibility for all logistical aspects, including the route of transportation, storage and distribution of the aid on Ukrainian territory, should be given all security guarantees for the personnel and cargo,” the Ukrainian ministry said in a commentary posted on its website.

Kyiv also believes “there is a need for the Red Cross to synchronize all aid deliveries for the civilian population of the Luhansk region, including supplies provided by the Ukrainian side in cooperation with other state and international organizations,” it said.

Rayan Farukshin, spokesman for the Southern Customs Directorate of the Russian Federal Customs Service, told Interfax earlier that the trucks carrying humanitarian aid intended for the population of Ukraine’s eastern regions remained parked near Russia’s Donetsk border checkpoint.

It was also reported that the first 16 KazAZ trucks from this convoy entered the premises of the Donetsk checkpoint on Aug. 20.

ICRC spokesperson Galina Balzamova told Interfax earlier that checks of the trucks were not being conducted because the sides were still discussing details of the aid convoy’s passage across the border.