EU agrees Pakistan can play facilitating role in Ukraine-Russia conflict: PM Imran Khan

• PM highlights that conflict would have “adverse economic impact on the developing countries".
• PM reiterates need to find a solution through dialogue and diplomacy.
• PM and EU president agree that countries like Pakistan could play a facilitating role in this endeavour. 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said Monday European Council President Charles Michel agreed that countries like Pakistan could play a facilitating role in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

The development comes after PM Imran Khan had lashed out at the EU envoys for their letter in which they had sought Pakistan's condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

“EU ambassadors wrote a letter to Pakistan, asking us to issue an anti-Russia statement. I ask EU ambassadors: did you write that letter to India as well?” said PM Imran while addressing a rally in Tehsil Mailsi of the Vehari District.

Today, the prime minister tweeted that he spoke with the EU council's president about the Ukraine situation.

The premier said he shared concerns over continued military conflict, highlighted its adverse economic impact on developing countries, and stressed the urgent need for ceasefire and de-escalation.

"I emphasised the importance of humanitarian relief and reiterated the call for a solution through dialogue and diplomacy," the prime minister said.

"We agreed that countries like Pakistan could play a facilitating role in this endeavour. I look forward to a close engagement to promote shared objectives," he added.

Separately, Moscow said Monday it would provide corridors for residents of Ukraine's two main cities to flee to Russia and Belarus, a move Ukraine called an "immoral stunt to exploit the suffering of civilians under Russian bombardment."

Russian and Ukrainian delegations assembled for a third round of talks in Belarus, both sides said. Two previous rounds yielded little beyond pledges to open routes for humanitarian access that have yet to be successfully implemented.

Russia's announcement of "humanitarian corridors" came after two days of failed ceasefires to allow civilians to escape the besieged city of Mariupol, where hundreds of thousands are trapped without food and water, under relentless bombardment.

More than 1.7 million Ukrainians fleeing Russia's invasion have so far crossed into Central Europe, the United Nation's refugee agency said on Monday, as thousands more streamed in that direction.

— Additional input from Reuters