The secretary-general of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Helga Maria Schmid, has spoken out against calls for Russia’s exclusion from the 57-country group.

Keeping diplomatic channels open does not mean that there is an agreement, Ms Schmid was quoted as saying in an interview with Germany’s Die Welt newspaper on Monday.

“At any rate, from today’s perspective, I think it makes sense for Russia to remain a member of the OSCE,’’ she said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had called for Russia’s expulsion from the organisation as a consequence of its ongoing invasion of his country which began on February 24.

“One day we will also need channels for talks again,’’ Ms Schmid said, noting that the OSCE is the only security organisation where all the key players in Europe’s security architecture sit at the same table.

The OSCE had emerged from confrontation during the Cold War and was founded by countries that had very different interests but sought to prevent an escalation, she added.

Ms Schmid also said human trafficking had increased dramatically in connection with the conflict.

“Worldwide online searches for sexual services and pornographic depictions by Ukrainian women and children have increased by up to 600 per cent since the beginning of the war,” she explained. “Trafficking in pregnant women has also increased significantly since the war began.’’ 

(dpa/NAN)