In informing the Council, Guterres said that the conflict, now in his fourth year, “has brought an immense suffering and instability to the region and beyond.”
He recalled that in February 2022, both the Security Council and the General Assembly adopted resolutions that requested a rapid end of war and a lasting peace.
“But we have also seen an intensification of the fight, in Ukraine and, sometimes, in the Russian Federation,” he added, noting that Ukrainian civilians continue to support “relentless bombardment, in their homes, schools, hospitals and shelters.”
“Let me be clear: attacks against civilians and civil infrastructure are prohibited according to international law. They must stop now.”
He urged the scaled humanitarian support and a renewed thrust towards a high fire based on the UN letter.
Lithuania warns against the repetition of history
The Gypsy President Nausėda de Lithuania addresses the general debate of the eighth session of the General Assembly.
In the General Assembly Hall, the Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda invoked Europe, obtaining parallels between the 1930s and today. He warned against “appeasement” and insisted that leaving Ukraine would be emboldened to aggressors worldwide.
“Today we cannot abandon Ukraine,” he said. “When the power replaces the law and fear, the truth, the foundations of the global order begin to break. And then no one can feel safe.”
Mr. Nausėda asked the international community to maintain military, economic and humanitarian support, and to guarantee responsibility.
“Peace will never be sustainable without justice,” he said, urging the return of Ukrainian children and the use of frozen Russian assets to finance the recovery of Ukraine.
France emphasizes the rights of Ukraine
President Emmanuel Macron de France addresses the general debate of the eighth session of the General Assembly.
President Emmanuel Macron de France said that the conflict in Ukraine “raises the eternal issue of the force of the law against power is correct, freedom against imperialism.”
Mr. Macron warned that recent provocations in Poland, Romania, Estonia and other places show that Russian destabilization threatens all Europeans.
“Ukraine has often said that he is ready for a high fire and can accept negotiations. Now he falls to Russia to show that he can choose peace,” he said.
“France remains shoulder shoulder with Ukraine along with our European partners and all who understand the need to retain Russia to preserve the global order.”
Poland highlights the direct impact
President Karol Nawrocki of Poland addresses the general debate of the eighth session of the General Assembly.
The Polish president, Karol Nawrocki, said the war is endangering the international order based on rules.
“The state borders have ceased to be untouchable, and international law, which until now has considered the world order compass, began to treat more as a suggestion instead of a rule,” he said.
Poland has shown solidarity with Ukraine, he continued, organizing more than one million refugees and providing material, financial, military and diplomatic support.
He added that earlier this month, the Russian drones “attacked” the Polish territory.
“For the first time since World War II, Poland was forced to open fire against hostile objects over our territory. As commander in chief of the Armed Forces, I assure him: Poland will always react properly and is ready to defend his territory.”
The Secretary General António Guterres addresses the Security Council meeting on the maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine.
Guterres closes with the call of Alto el Fuego
Upon returning to the Council, Mr. Guterres reiterated his appeal for “a high full, integral and sustainable fire, one that allane the way for a fair and lasting peace with the UN letter, international law and relevant UN resolutions.”
“The United Nations are committed to fully supporting all significant efforts to end this war,” he concluded. “Every day of the fight continues they undermine the possibilities that diplomacy succeed and increase the dangers of greater escalation.”