Statement by the Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk at a session on August 13, 2014

Yatsenyuk A.P.: Dear members of the Cabinet of Ministers!

A sad and tragic event is happening now. Such events unfortunately affect many Ukrainian families. Mykola Berezovyi - Tetyana Chornovol’s husband – was killed in a battle, was killed as hundreds of Ukrainian heroes who are defending our country and its independence. His funeral is right now, there is a Government’s delegation there. So I have a request: Let's commemorate Mykola with a minute of silence.

Dear members of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine! There are a few issues on the agenda, but I would like to start with a political issue. That’s so-called humanitarian aid. The level of Russian cynicism has no boundaries. First, they supply tanks, Grads, terrorists, bandits who shoot Ukrainians, and then they supply water and salt.

We have the following position. There have already gathered up to $ 6 million in the aid fund together with our international partners, managed by the UN High Commissioner. We as the Government of Ukraine, the President of Ukraine supply essential goods into all the liberated territories. We as the Ukrainian state have provided and are able to provide our citizens.

Therefore, the Government allocates additional UAH 10 million for the purchase of essential goods. Ukraine can take any kind of humanitarian aid entirely within international law and exclusively from the Red Cross.

As for our actions, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior Affairs, Volodymyr Borysovych, we shall form a column once again, we have already delivered 270 tons, and we shall do our best in order to transfer the goods of first necessity onto the corresponding territories.

I separately appeal to the Red Cross to make these loads to reach people, as the territory is controlled by terrorists supported by Russia. It would be better if they send these 300 KAMAZs empty, the Russians, take their bandits back, and then there is no need to send any humanitarian aid.

Thanks to the media.