Acknowledging The Independence Of Donetsk And Lugansk, UN Secretary General Says Russia Violates Ukraine's Territorial Integrity And Sovereignty

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres gave a statement regarding the crisis situation in Ukraine accompanied by Stéphane Dujarric (wearing glasses). (Source: UN Photo/Manuel Elias)

JAKARTA - UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called Russia's recognition of the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, calling on all parties to focus on efforts to stop hostilities and protect civilians, a spokesman said.

In a statement issued by Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, the UN Secretary-General called for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, in accordance with the Minsk Agreement, as endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 2202 of 2015.

"Russia's decision is a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, not in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter," Dujarric said of the UN Secretary General's assessment.

"The Secretary-General urges all relevant actors to focus their efforts on ensuring an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, preventing any actions and statements that could further escalate the dangerous situation in and around Ukraine, prioritizing diplomacy to resolve all issues peacefully, " he explained.

Dujarric stressed that, in line with relevant General Assembly resolutions, the United Nations remains fully supportive of Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, within internationally recognized boundaries.

The UN secretary general was planning to undertake and an official visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but given the deteriorating situation regarding Ukraine, he has canceled the mission.

For information, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine as independent territories on Monday, ordering the Russian army to launch what Moscow calls a peacekeeping operation into the region, accelerating a crisis the West fears could spark a major war.

Responding to this recognition, the President of the United States to the Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg regretted Russia's move, saying it would spark another conflict in the region, and said he would prepare separate new sanctions.

President Biden issued an executive order on Monday that White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said would "prohibit new investment, trade and financing by U.S. persons into, from, or in the so-called DNR (Donetsk People's Republic) and LNR (Donetsk People's Republic) regions. People's Republic of Lugansk) Ukraine."