Talks With Russia And Ukraine, UN Secretary-General: Don't Derail Peace Goals

An illustration of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. (Wikimedia Commons/IAEA Imagebank)

JAKARTA - United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday he was deeply concerned about rising tensions in Ukraine and growing speculation about a military conflict, urging world leaders to intensify diplomacy to calm the situation.

"We absolutely cannot accept the possibility of such a disastrous confrontation," he told reporters after lunch with the UN Security Council ambassador.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday he had heard Wednesday could be Invasion Day. Russia said it was ready to continue talking to the West to try to defuse the security crisis, while the United States said Moscow was increasing its military capabilities.

"The time is now to defuse tensions and defuse action on the ground. There is no place for incendiary rhetoric. Public statements should be aimed at reducing tensions, not inflaming them," Guterres said.

Earlier on Monday, Guterres spoke separately with the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine, telling reporters he would remain "fully engaged in the hours and days to come."

Guterres stressed that the UN Charter requires all member states to "restrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any country."

"Leaving diplomacy for confrontation is not an overstepping step, it is a cliff dive," Guterres said.

"In short, my call is this: Do not thwart the cause of peace," he stressed.

Please note, the United Nations has no plans to evacuate or relocate from Ukraine its more than 1,600 staff, of which 220 are foreign staff and more than 1,400 Ukrainians, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Monday.