UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stark appeal for peace in Ukraine, warning that the current trajectory of the war is 'not sustainable' and that the 'death spiral must stop.' He called for immediate and sustained de-escalation, a full and unconditional ceasefire, and renewed diplomatic efforts to create conditions for a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in line with the Charter of the United Nations and international law.
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'The Choice Is Clear': UN Chief Blasts Putin Over Killing Of 15,000 Civilians In Ukraine By RussiaAdded:
The choice is clear, the responsibility is clear, the time for peace is now.
Mr. President, with your permission, I will make some brief remarks, and the Assistant Secretary General Khiari will provide a detailed briefing.
Mr. President, excellencies, allow me to make a direct appeal.
The large-scale strikes launched by the Russian Federation across Ukraine on 23rd, 24th of May, and the prospect of further such attacks underscore the gravity of this moment.
Since February 2022, more than 15,000 civilians have been killed in Ukraine, nearly 800 children among them, as verified by the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Reports from the Russian Federation indicated also a growing number of civilian casualties, including children.
Humanitarian personnel have come under attack.
Serious violations of international humanitarian law continue.
The human toll is increasing.
In the first 4 months of this year, more civilians have been killed in Ukraine than in the same period in 2025, or 2024, or 2023.
The front line is virtually frozen, with swarms of drones inflicting heavy casualties, and civilian infrastructure is being destroyed on a vast scale, especially energy infrastructure.
This could go on and on and on.
But the direction of the war, the escalation and intensification that we are witnessing, risks to get out of control.
The risk of miscalculation, the risk of escalation with unknown and unintended consequences, and so let's speak plainly.
The current course is not sustainable.
The trajectory must change. The death spiral must stop.
What is needed now is de-escalation, immediate and sustained.
What is needed now is a full and unconditional ceasefire.
What is needed now is more diplomacy.
And what is needed is to create the conditions for a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in line with the Charter of the United Nations, international law, and UN resolution.
Mr. President, excellencies, the choice is clear, the responsibility is clear, the time for peace is now, and I thank you.
>> Mr. President, as the Secretary General just stated, today's meeting takes place against the backdrop of an alarming escalation of the war in Ukraine.
On the night of 23rd and 24th of May, the armed forces of the Russian Federation launched a massive strike across Ukraine, reportedly deploying as many as 90 long-range missiles and 600 drones.
Among the weapons used were the so-called Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, which targeted the city of Bila Tserkva in central Ukraine.
This marks the third known instance of the use of this weapon by the Russian Federation in Ukraine.
At least five people were reportedly killed, and at least 112 others injured across Ukraine, with the heaviest toll in Kyiv.
The city's more than 2 million residents endured over 7 hours of explosions, impacting dozens of residential buildings.
According to UNESCO, more than 30 cultural sites were reportedly damaged in this latest wave of attacks.
The The residence of the Albanian ambassador and the compound housing the United Nations resident coordinator and several UN agencies were impacted by falling debris from strikes in central Kyiv.
Fortunately, no UN staff members were injured.
Attacks continued into this week impacting civilians across southern and eastern Ukraine.
Russian Federation authorities have also reported rising civilian casualties from alleged Ukrainian strikes.
On 25th of May, two civilians were reportedly killed in the Belgorod and Bryansk regions.
Mr. President, we remain deeply concerned over the recent announcements by the Russian Federation of plans to conduct, and I quote, "consistent and systemic strikes against Ukrainian defense enterprises in Kyiv, as well as against decision-making centers and command posts." End of quote.
This announcement followed reports of an Ukrainian drone attack on a college building and dormitory in the Ukrainian city of Starobilsk that is presently occupied by the Russian Federation.
We strongly condemn all attacks on civilian and civilian infrastructure.
Such attacks, wherever they occur, violate international humanitarian law.
They must cease immediately. Civilians must be protected.
Mr. President, the United Nations and our humanitarian partners continue to operate under extremely dangerous conditions to reach civilians in need.
In the past 2 weeks, United Nations humanitarian personnel, humanitarian partners, and assets have come under attack on five occasions. This is unacceptable.
Humanitarian personnel and clearly marked humanitarian missions must be protected at all times in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The United Nations stand ready to work with both sides to ensure safe, sustained, and unimpeded humanitarian access to communities in needs wherever they may be.
Despite the challenging conditions, the United Nations continue to support recovery and reconstruction efforts, as well as human rights monitoring and advocacy.
The United Nations is also focused on efforts to facilitate the safe return of deported and forcibly transferred Ukrainian children, including through the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict.
Mr. President, in its fifth year, Russian Federation's full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues to exact a profound toll, disrupting global trade and economy, deepening regional and international divisions, and eroding trust in the multilateral system.
With each passing day, diplomacy is delayed.
The threat to regional and international peace and security deepens.
An urgent return to dialogue and negotiations remain imperative.
The United Nations will continue to fully support all meaningful efforts to that end. Thank you.
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