Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a year ago constituted a “flagrant violation” of the United Nations Charter and international law, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio said Friday before the Security Council. Guterres.
At a ministerial-level meeting to mark a year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Guterres used a harsh speech to remind that the goals and principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter “are not a matter of convenience” , nor “just words on paper”. . .
Looking back at the 365 days of war, the former Portuguese prime minister indicated that the Security Council held more than 40 debates on Ukraine and recalled the words he uttered exactly one year ago when he appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to ” in the name of humanity”, does not allow what “could be the worst war since the beginning of the century” to start in Europe.
“I said we should give peace a chance. But peace didn’t stand a chance. War ruled the day. (…) It unleashed widespread death, destruction and forced displacement. (…) Life is hell for the people of Ukraine,” he stressed.
The United Nations leader made it a point to highlight the numbers of the war: 17.6 million people – nearly 40% of Ukraine’s population – are in need of humanitarian aid and protection; 30% of pre-war jobs eliminated; more than eight million refugees; more than 700 attacks on health facilities; more than 3,000 schools and colleges have been damaged or destroyed, among many others.
“Less measurable – but no less important – is the devastating impact of months of forced displacement and bombing on the mental health of Ukrainians. Nearly 10 million people, including 7.8 million children, are at risk of acute post-traumatic stress disorder,” he said. he. noted, adding that “the Russian Federation is also suffering the deadly consequences”.
The UN chief also warned of veiled threats of the use of nuclear weapons in the context of the conflict, which have “raised nuclear risks to levels not seen since the darkest days of the Cold War”.
António Guterres ended his speech with a call for peace, but in accordance with the UN Charter and international law, underlining the need to account for the aggression committed.
“Weapons speak now, but at the end of the day we all know that the path of diplomacy and accountability is the path to a just and lasting peace. Peace in accordance with the UN Charter and international law”he said.
“We must prevent further escalation. We must all encourage all meaningful efforts to end the bloodshed and finally give peace a chance.”strengthened the UN Secretary-General.
The meeting, led by the Foreign Minister of Malta (the country that presides over the Security Council this month), Ian Borg, was also attended by the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, as well as ministers and government members from several countries.
Before addressing the Council, Borrell told journalists that the document China presented today on the war in Ukraine “is not a peace plan” because he did not want to “reject” it.
“It’s not a peace plan, it’s a position in which China reaffirms its positions from the beginning”Borrell said, listing its shortcomings: It’s not operational, it hasn’t consulted the two parties to the conflict, and it also puts “the aggressor and the aggressor” on the same footing.
For example, he recalled that previous peace initiatives, such as those of Senegal and Indonesia, included diplomatic missions by their envoys to Russia and Ukraine to promote these initiatives, for which reason he encouraged the Chinese “to go to Kiev, as they went to Moscow “. “.
The head of European diplomacy insisted that China’s proposal has “interesting elements”, including not using nuclear weapons, the prisoner exchange or the grain deals, but that is not enough, he stressed.
Source: DN
