UN chief urges immediate ceasefire ahead of Alaska summit
Photo: The UN welcomes dialogue between leaders in Alaska (Getty Images)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomes high-level dialogue between the two permanent members of the Security Council, the US and Russia. At the same time, he called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, according to Guterres' representative Stephane Dujarric.
In particular, journalists asked him to predict the prospects for a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. Trump estimated the probability of success at 75% and failure at 25%. However, the UN refuses to make a prediction.
"We're not in the betting game. […] I think we do welcome the dialogue at the highest level between these two permanent members of the Security Council and a lot of issues on the agenda," said the representative of the UN Secretary-General.
Stephane Dujarric also notes that a ceasefire would be the first step towards comprehensive peace and compliance with UN resolutions. The position of the organization's leadership has not changed.
"We want an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire as a first step towards finding a just and sustainable and comprehensive peace, one that upholds Ukraine's sovereignty, its territorial integrity and independence with an internationally recognized border and in line with UN charter, international law and all relevant UN resolutions," Dujarric says.
In addition, he notes that the organization will closely monitor the progress of the summit and its results.
Meeting between Putin and Trump
Today in Alaska, US President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will meet. The key topic of the talks will be the war in Ukraine and its end.
