Ukraine: " President Putin announced Special Military Operation in Ukraine" | United Nations

Описание: Informal Remarks by Secretary-General at the Security Media Stake Out following the Security Council 8974 meeting on Ukraine

After the declaration of a “special military operation in the Donbass,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres appealed to President Vladimir Putin “in the name of humanity” to bring Russian troops “back to Russia” and “not allow [the] start in Europe what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century.”

Speaking to reporters following an emergency meeting of the Security Council, Guterres said this was “the saddest moment” in his tenure as Secretary-General of the United Nations. The UN chief said, at the Council, he called on President Putin to give peace a chance, however during that meeting President Putin announced a special military operation in the Donbass and required the Ukrainian troops to lay down their arms.

Guterres said the consequences of this war would be not only devastating for Ukraine and tragic for the Russian Federation, but would have an impact that could not be foreseen on the global economy as the world is emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. He said many developing countries need to have space for the recovery which will be very, very difficult with high oil prices, the disruption of wheat exports from the Ukraine, and rising interest rates caused by the instability in international markets.

The UN chief said This conflict must stop now. He added, “What is clear for me is that this war doesn't make any sense. It violates the principles of the charter. And it causes or will cause if it doesn't stop a level of suffering Europe has not known since at least the Balkan crisis.”

———-

Secretary-General’s remarks at press encounter following the Security Council meeting on Ukraine
SG: This is the saddest moment in my tenure as Secretary-General of the United Nations. I started this meeting of the Security Council addressing President Putin and telling him from the bottom of my heart: Stop your troops from an offensive against Ukraine, give peace a chance because too many people have died.

During the meeting President Putin announced a ‘special military operation’ in the Donbas and required the Ukrainian troops to lay down their arms. So, in the present circumstances I must change my appeal.

I must say, President Putin: In the name of humanity bring your troops back to Russia. In the name of humanity do not allow to start in Europe what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century, with consequences not only devastating for Ukraine, not only tragic for the Russian Federation, but with an impact we cannot even foresee in relation to the consequences for the global economy in a moment when we are emerging from the COVID [pandemic] and so many developing countries absolutely need to have space for the recovery which would be very, very difficult, with the high prices of oil, with the end of exports of wheat from Ukraine, and with the rising interest rates caused by instability in international markets.

This conflict must stop - now. Thank you very much.

Q: Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary-General. You have just talked about consequences. I wonder if you could spell out more what you think the consequences will be for Russia, and for Ukraine and its people.

SG: Well, it is clear that military action will be happening in the territory of Ukraine, and obviously if they lead to a generalized war, it is difficult to forecast how dramatic it will be in the number of people who will die, in the number of people who will be displaced, in the number of people who will lose hope in relation to the future. It is also clear that the consequences for the Russian Federation will be very meaningful. It is not for me to comment on sanctions that will be implemented but it is clear there will be also consequences.

What is clear for me is that this war doesn’t make any sense. It violates the principles of the Charter. And it will cause, if it doesn’t stop, a level of suffering Europe has not known since, at least, the Balkan crisis.