The UN and several countries on Thursday called for an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, with little mention of a revival of their seemingly stalled peace talks.
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“The invasion of Ukraine by Russia is a violation of its territorial integrity and of the Charter of the United Nations”, repeated the Secretary General of the Organization, Antonio Guterres, during a meeting of the Security Council organized by Washington. “This must stop for the good of the Ukrainian people, Russian people and the whole world,” he added.
The UN chief recently traveled to Moscow and kyiv to push for the evacuation of civilians from Mariupol, several hundred of whom have been able to leave the city since this weekend.
Most of the members of the Security Council, including China, the United States, Ireland, France or Mexico, have called for “the end of the war” which seems, Albania deplored, not to have to s ‘Stop.
“Only dialogue and negotiation will allow the fighting to stop,” summed up the Chinese ambassador Zhang Jun, criticizing the sending of arms to Ukraine, while his Kenyan counterpart, Martin Kimani, called for “mediation” of Antonio Guterres.
“Every opportunity must be seized to achieve peace,” said Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya.
Diplomats said non-permanent members Norway and Mexico submitted a text to their partners, expressing “strong support for the secretary-general’s offer of good offices in the search for a peaceful solution.”
An adoption of this declaration – which would be the first demonstration of unity of the Council since the invasion of February 24 – remains uncertain. “We have time,” Deputy Russian Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy told AFP when asked if Moscow could approve it.