Russia submits draft resolution on Ukraine

Russia has submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), calling for an immediate ceasefire and a humanitarian corridor in Ukraine.

Moscow submitted the draft resolution at the start of its month-long presidency of the UN Security Council.

The draft resolution calls for an immediate end to the violence and for the creation of aid corridors in eastern Ukraine to allow civilians to safely leave areas of hostility and to ensure humanitarian access.

Moscow said what it wants is nothing but an end to the violence between the pro-Russians and government forces in Ukraine.

The US State Department, however, censured the draft resolution, claiming that Moscow is doing “nothing” to stop the pro-Russia forces from attacking new targets.

Tensions between Russia and the West heightened after Ukraine’s Crimea joined the Russian Federation following a referendum in March, in which 96.8 percent of the participants voted for union with Russia.

The move sparked angry reactions from the United States and the European Union, both imposing punitive measures against a number of Russian officials and authorities in Crimea.

Ukrainian authorities have ordered military operations against the pro-Russian forces in both eastern and southern Ukraine, claiming that Russian special forces are fueling unrest in the country.