UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a diplomatic solution to the crisis surrounding Ukraine, and said the United Nations will also make an effort to achieve it, NHK World Japan reported.
The UN chief spoke amid increasing concern of Western powers over the likelihood of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Guterres spoke with Security Council members, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Monday.
After the talks, Guterres told reporters that he is deeply worried about the heightened tensions and increased speculation of a potential military conflict in Europe.
Stressing that there is no alternative to diplomacy, he said, “The time is now to defuse tensions and deescalate actions on the ground.” He welcomed recent increased diplomatic efforts by leaders of other countries.
Relevant countries have made various statements on the matter. The UN secretary-general said, “There is no place for incendiary rhetoric. Public statements should aim to reduce tensions, not inflame them.”
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric also told the news conference on Monday that the UN has no plans to evacuate or relocate from Ukraine its staff of over 1,600.
