Envoy forced to end Crimea trip after being trapped by militia

United Nations special envoy John Serry has exclusively told ITV News that his ordeal is an example of how serious the situation has become in Ukraine's Crimea region.

Mr Serry was forced to take refuge in a coffee shop with journalists from ITV News after being confronted by armed men.

"I think this incident is just an example of how serious the situation has become and my hope is that everybody will realise that this situation is very urgent now and we must find a way to de-escalate the situation here," Mr Serry said inside the business lounge at Simeferopol airport.

"That is the lesson of what happened to me."

Read: UN envoy and ITV News journalists trapped by local militia in Crimea cafe

John Serry says something needs to be done to "de-escalate" the "very urgent" situation in Crimea, after he was forced to leave the region following his confrontation with unidentified armed men and angry pro-Russia protesters.

Mr Serry added that he hoped all citizens in Crimea can "start to feel safe again".

UN special representative Robert Serry has said his forced departure from Crimea reflects the seriousness of the situation in the region as he spoke to ITV News' Europe Editor James Mates.

Read: UN envoy and ITV News journalists trapped by local militia in Crimea cafe

Europe Editor James Mates, who has been with the UN's special envoy since he was trapped in a cafe in Crimea, reports that Robert Serry is to get a flight to Turkey:

Local militia blocked a door to a cafe in Crimea trapping UN special envoy Robert Serry and ITV News journalists.

Mr Serry sought refuge in the cafe after his car was blocked by armed men who demanded that he should leave the region.

Watch: UN envoy tells ITV News of confrontation in Crimea

An aide to UN special envoy Robert Serry asked journalists from ITV News not to leave the coffee shop in Crimea where the diplomat was being held by unidentified local militia.

"No, no don't leave. Please," the woman is heard saying as Mr Serry discusses the situation on the phone.

ITV News were the only TV journalists with the UN envoy as he was trapped in a cafe.

Watch: UN envoy tells ITV News of confrontation in Crimea

A United Nations spokesperson has said Robert Serry is "taking a late flight out of Simferopol and will shortly return to Kiev to continue his mission" after his confrontation with militia In Crimea today.

ITV News were the only TV journalists with the UN envoy as he was trapped in a cafe.

Read James Mates' account

UN special envoy Robert Serry is at the airport in Crimea and is set to leave Ukraine shortly after being confronted by unidentified group of men in the region and trapped with ITV News' James Mates inside a cafe.

Watch: UN envoy tells ITV News of confrontation in Crimea