New York, 24 February 2022 (TDI): As Russia has opened a full-scale military operation in eastern Ukraine, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a plea on Wednesday to Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the war in the name of humanity.
“President Putin, in the name of humanity, bring your troops back to Russia.
This conflict must stop now.”
— @antonioguterres on the developments regarding Ukraine. https://t.co/QYDflm1Co5 pic.twitter.com/s3aWCHWHYZ
— United Nations (@UN) February 24, 2022
While speaking to the press, UN Secretary-General said that this is the saddest moment in his tenure as Secretary-General of the United Nations. He said that he has 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.
President Putin announced a ‘special military operation’ in the Donbas and required the Ukrainian troops to lay down their arms during the meeting. So, in the present circumstances, UN Secretary-General said that he would like to change his appeal.
UN Secretary-General said to the President of the Russian Federation n: 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.
“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”, @antonioguterres’ message to Russia. pic.twitter.com/SYpojtnEa7
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) February 24, 2022
On the question about clarifying the consequences and what will be implications for both Russia and Ukraine Secretary-General explained that military action will be happening in the territory of Ukraine. This will 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.
Secretary-General further added that this war in such challenging times 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. Secretary-General further highlighted that UN Security Council has the powers according to the given Charter to address the situation and stop the war.
