Islamabad Declaration: OIC calls for ‘immediate cessation of hostilities’ in Ukraine, offers to mediate

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan, center, attend at the start of a two-day gathering of OIC, at the Parliament House in Islamabad, Pakistan, on March 22, 2022. (AP)

• OIC declaration comes as Ukraine’s Zelensky called on people worldwide to gather today, Thursday, to show support for his country
• Thursday marks one-month anniversary of Russian invasion, NATO estimated up to 15,000 Russian soldiers killed in four weeks 

ISLAMABAD: As a conference of foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation concluded in Islamabad on Wednesday, member states called for the “immediate cessation of hostilities” in Ukraine and offered to mediate dialogue with Russia, which invaded the Eastern European nation one month ago today, Thursday.
In his keynote address on Tuesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan also suggested that close ally China and Islamic countries mediate in the Russia-Ukraine war and try to bring about a cease-fire.
Pakistan hosted the OIC’s 48th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers on March 22-23, which more than 600 delegates attended, including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as a special guest.
In an “Islamabad Declaration” passed at the end of the conference, OIC member states expressed “deep concern at the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation arising from the conflict in Ukraine.”
“Having deliberated on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine at the 48th Session of Council of Foreign Ministers, we call for an immediate cessation of hostilities to prevent further loss of life and ensure that the humanitarian crisis does not worsen in Ukraine,” the declaration said.
“We stress the need for the establishment humanitarian corridors to ensure safe movement of civilians from active conflict zones and the provision of humanitarian supplies.”
The OIC urged both sides to engage in “meaningful dialogue” with the purpose of finding a solution.
“We express the willingness of OIC member states to support and facilitate the dialogue process between all sides, if requested,” the declaration added. 
The OIC’s declaration comes as Ukraine President Volodymr Zelensky called on people worldwide to gather in public today, Thursday, to show support for his embattled country on the one-month anniversary of the Russian invasion.
“Come to your squares, your streets. Make yourselves visible and heard,” Zelensky said in English during an emotional video address late Wednesday that was recorded in the dark near the presidential offices in Kyiv. “Say that people matter. Freedom matters. Peace matters. Ukraine matters.”
When Russia unleashed its invasion on February 24 in Europe’s biggest offensive since World War II, a swift toppling of Ukraine’s government seemed likely. But with Wednesday marking four full weeks of fighting, Moscow is bogged down in a grinding military campaign.
NATO estimated that up to 15,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in four weeks of war in Ukraine, where fierce resistance has denied Moscow the lightning victory it sought.