By Khulile Thwala
The Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Guterres has affirmed the UN’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, stating that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine challenges the principles and values of the multilateral system.
He condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an affront to the collective conscience as the 193-member General Assembly met ahead of a vote that the United States (US) said would go down in history.
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In an updated post on Twitter, Guterres said the position of the UN is unequivocal; “We are committed to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognised borders.”
“War is not the solution, war is the problem. People in Ukraine are suffering enormously. Ukrainians, Russians, and People far beyond need peace. While prospects may look bleak today, we must all work, knowing that genuine, lasting peace must be based on the UN Charter and international law,” he said.
Guterres added that the longer the fighting continues, the more difficult this work will be.
“We don’t have a moment to lose,” said Guterres.
The general assembly is expected to vote on the draft resolution on Ukraine on Thursday or Friday.
