Senior US state department official in Kyiv for humanitarian talks PHOTO

Riley Barnes, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, is visiting the Ukrainian capital to discuss cooperation on humanitarian matters between the two countries.

Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Olha Stefanishyna, said on Facebook that Barnes held meetings with First Lady Olena Zelenska, Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Iryna Vereshchuk, as well as representatives of relevant government agencies, Caliber.Az reports.

According to Ukrainian officials, discussions centred on humanitarian cooperation, the return of civilian detainees, the repatriation of Ukrainian children illegally deported from occupied territories, and alleged human rights violations in areas under Russian control.

The visit comes as Kyiv continues to seek international support on humanitarian and human rights issues amid the ongoing war with Russia.

By Aghakazim Guliyev