UN has no leverage over wars raging around the world, Secretary General says
Photo: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (Getty Images)
The United Nations has no leverage over the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East due to geopolitical differences, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says.
He notes that the UN has no leverage to promote peace in Ukraine and the Middle East. However, he emphasizes that he firmly upholds the UN Charter and the territorial integrity of countries, and condemns horrific human rights violations.
Guterres emphasizes that the UN does not adhere to a transactional approach to politics and must serve as a beacon of values and principles for the entire world, because someone must assert that the law of force cannot prevail over the force of law.
"That, of course, sometimes limits our capacity to negotiate an agreement because one of the sides is a clear violator that doesn’t like to listen to the truth. But that will never, never make us move away from what are the values in which a civilized society must be based," the UN Secretary General states.
He emphasizes that the UN Secretary-General has no army, no intelligence service, and no large funds at his disposal. But he does have two powers: to speak out on global issues and to convene meetings of the world's nations.
Impact of wars on global economy
Guterres notes that violations and impunity have led to loss of life and massive destruction, and that the combination of the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict in the Middle East is having a dramatic impact on the global economy.
He adds that food and energy prices are rising, interest rates are increasing, and developing countries are facing enormous difficulties in meeting the needs of their populations.
At the same time, the UN Secretary General expresses hope that these challenges would make people realize that these obstacles cannot be overcome on their own and that international cooperation is necessary to resolve them.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in New York today. On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, he is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump—the talks are expected to take place later this evening.
