UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- European Union members of the UN Security Council on Tuesday asked for humanitarian access to the areas held by separatists in eastern Ukraine.
After five years of conflict, the deteriorating security situation in eastern Ukraine has had an increasing impact on the civilian population, in particular the most vulnerable living in the non-government-controlled areas, and along the line of contact where people are under continuous threat of shelling, said the countries in a statement.
"We urge all parties to the conflict to re-establish full access for all international humanitarian organizations to the non-government-controlled areas and to allow smooth and speedy delivery of humanitarian assistance in line with humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law," it said.
Some 3.5 million people require humanitarian aid and protection due to widespread mine contamination, escalating psychological trauma and lack of access to basic services, said the statement.
The EU countries asked for a peaceful solution to the crisis. "We remain convinced that a peaceful resolution of the conflict is possible and call on all sides to swiftly and fully implement the Minsk agreements and honor their commitments in full in order to achieve a sustainable political solution to the conflict."
The statement was read to reporters by Jonathan Allen, Britain's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, on behalf of the eight EU countries of Britain, France, Poland, Belgium, Germany -- the current EU members of the Security Council -- and the Netherlands, Sweden, Italy -- EU members on the council in the past two years.
The eight countries reiterated their full support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine "within the internationally recognized borders" and asked Russia to end its financial and military support to the separatists and to withdraw its armed forces and military equipment from Ukrainian territory.
