Hanoi (VNA) – As a traditional friend ofboth Russia and Ukraine, Vietnam hopes that the sides will exercise restraint,ease tensions and continue dialogue efforts to seek a long-term solution in conformitywith international law, with legitimate interests of each side taken intoaccount, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son has said.

Vietnam stands ready to join hands with theinternational community to contribute to the process, Son told Russian Foreign MinisterSergey Lavrov and Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba during his separate phonetalks with them on March 15 and 16, respectively.

He affirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance that internationaldisputes and differences should be addressed by peaceful measures in line with basicprinciples of the UN Charter and international law, especially those on respectingindependence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries.

The FM suggested Russia and Ukraine continue toorganise humanitarian corridors and take measures to ensure safety for civilians,including Vietnamese people in Ukraine, helping them to evacuate from battlezones.

For their part, the FMs of Russia and Ukraine expressedtheir wish to maintain and enhance cooperation with Vietnam, and pledged to trytheir best to facilitate the evacuation of Vietnamese citizens.

Son called on Russia to further create optimalconditions for Vietnamese in the country to stabilise their lives, production andbusiness.

On losses to people in Ukraine, Son stressed thatVietnam backs international efforts to provide humanitarian aid for them,saying Vietnam will resume exchanges and cooperation with Ukraine after peace andstability are restored in Ukraine./.