UN Secretary-General calls for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine
Photo: UN Secretary-General António Guterres (Getty Images)
Russia’s war against Ukraine continues with no prospect of a quick end, making an immediate ceasefire necessary as a first step toward a just and lasting peace, according to a statement by UN Secretary-General António Guterres ahead of the opening of the High-Level Week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
"We have entered the fifth year of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with immense suffering among the civilian population and cascading global consequences—and there is no end in sight," he said.
The Secretary-General stressed that any ceasefire must be consistent with the UN Charter, international law, and relevant UN resolutions. In his view, this is the only way to create the conditions necessary for further agreements.
Responding to a question about recent trips by US negotiators to Moscow and Kyiv and the possibility of a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the UN, Guterres said he would be ready to take part in such a process.
Guterres also expressed concern that the devastating fighting continues and that civilians keep suffering in both Ukraine and Russia.
Impact on the global economy and food security
Guterres noted that the war is creating serious challenges for food security, as well as the supply of fertilizers and energy resources around the world.
According to him, the situation is being further complicated by the blockade in the Black Sea, adding to the crisis in the Middle East.
The UN chief stressed the critical importance of finding ways to safely continue exports of Ukrainian and Russian products, including food, fertilizers, and energy.
US President Donald Trump called on Kyiv to stop strikes on Russian infrastructure, arguing that such attacks could lead to a global diesel fuel shortage.
The Kremlin responded positively to the initiative. At the same time, Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that halting strikes on oil refineries would not solve all problems in the global energy market.
In addition, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said that Kyiv is ready to implement an energy ceasefire and is waiting for Moscow to provide a specific list of facilities so that the details can be agreed upon.
