Vietnam has asked Russia to set up a temporary demilitarized zone in Ukraine to allow the safe transit of refugees, including the Vietnamese.

A phone conversation held between Vietnam's Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (L) and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Photos: VNA

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son told his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in a phone conversation on Mar 15.

Son also requested the Russian side to take measures to ensure the safety of civilians, including Vietnamese in Ukraine, evacuating them from combat zones.

For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov affirmed that he would do his best to support the safe evacuation of Vietnamese citizens from the battlefront.

Son expected Russia to continue creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Russia to help them in life, work, and business.

During the talk that is described as “sincere, frank and constructive” on the conflict in Ukraine, the Vietnamese minister hoped the parties exercise restraint, reduce tensions and continue dialogues to find a long-term solution in accordance with international law and taking into account the legitimate interests of the parties.

Vietnam is willing to join the international community to contribute to this process, he added.

He affirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance that international disputes and disagreements should be resolved by peaceful means, in compliance with basic principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, especially those pertaining to the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of states.

It’s been three weeks since Russia launched a military campaign in Ukraine on February 24, forcing millions of people to flee. So far, about 4,500 out of roughly 7,000 Vietnamese people have been evacuated from conflict zones. Of them, 1,200 have reached the home country in repatriation flights conducted since March 9, data by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs showed.

Many Vietnamese people have settled down in Ukraine. For that reason, Vietnam’s foreign minister earlier this month expected Poland to offer them refuge.