UN to join efforts to find path to peace in Ukraine, Zelenskyy says
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Getty Images)
"I had a phone call with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. I informed him about Russia’s ongoing strikes and the many casualties among ordinary civilians," the head of state said.
Zelenskyy noted that the UN secretary-general had condemned Russia’s large-scale attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities and communities.
"But despite the Russian side spurning all proposals to sit down at the negotiating table, everything possible must be done to bring this war to an end. We agreed that the search for ways forward will continue and that the UN will contribute to this joint effort," the president stressed.
The head of state added that he had discussed with Guterres the threats posed by Russian strikes to food security, as well as Russia’s attacks on port infrastructure and vessels.
He also noted that prices had already begun to rise in many countries across Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
It should be recalled that Russian attacks on Odesa’s ports have nearly halted Ukrainian grain exports at the height of the harvest season. Analysts predict that this could cause the country’s GDP to shrink by 2% this year.
In addition, by the end of July, the UN had acknowledged that Russian attacks on ports and ships pose a threat to global food security.
