Zelensky asks Red Cross to "fight" to gain access to Ukrainian prisoners

Insists on creating a special international court to judge Russia

MADRID, 13 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, has asked this Thursday the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to "fight" and put pressure on the Russian Government to obtain access to Ukrainian prisoners of war.

During a speech before the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Zelensky insisted that kyiv "cannot fight for them", for which he pointed out that it should be the Red Cross who "fight for it because it is their job". "They get paid to do it, the world is watching them, they need to put pressure on Russia."

In this sense, he stressed that the Russian side "ignores all the rules when dealing with prisoners of war" and has accused the Russian forces of killing 50 prisoners in Olenivka alone. In addition, he has recalled that all of them continue to be tortured by the "Russian invaders", according to the Ukrinform news agency.

Zelenski has taken advantage of the occasion to warn that the Red Cross has not had access to prisoners of war during eight years of war in the east of the country. "They have probably made an effort, but we do not hear that they have gone to those areas and that they have been prevented from entering. I do not see them at the borders nor do I see them making constant statements to the media or to the UN," he insisted.

For this reason, he has emphasized the importance of organizations such as the Red Cross "acting with greater force."

Zelensky has once again requested that a special international court be created to try alleged war crimes committed by Russian forces on Ukrainian territory, a mechanism through which Moscow should pay compensation for its acts, among other measures.

"Europe can play a historic role by creating a special court related to the Russian aggression in Ukraine. Let's do it! This will be the best way to protect the principles of International Law," he pointed out.

He also stated that "a compensation mechanism must be created" and highlighted that there is already a project drawn up by the Ukrainian government. "You just have to support it at a European level and before the UN General Assembly," he added.

"We must continue the dialogue to ensure that the Russian aggressor state and its murderers pay for their acts, for each manifestation of terror," he concluded.