UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke separately on Monday with the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine and still believed “from his own analysis, his own hopes” that there would not be a conflict, a UN spokesman said.
The UN has no plans to evacuate or relocate out of Ukraine any of its more than 1,600 staff – of which 220 are foreign staff and more than 1,400 are Ukrainian – UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric also said.
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
He expressed “serious concern” during his phone calls with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Monday over the heightened tensions.
“He welcomed the ongoing diplomatic discussions to defuse those tensions and underlined, yet again, the fact that there is no alternative to diplomacy,” Dujarric said.
When asked if the outreach could signal a greater mediation role for the UN, Dujarric said: “The Secretary-General said his good offices are always available… It is his duty and responsibility as Secretary-General to be in touch with many of the parties involved in this current situation.”
Guterres said three weeks ago he was convinced a Russian invasion would not happen.
Read more:
Russian mercenaries with spy links increasing presence in Ukraine: Reuters
Ukraine will persist with NATO goal, Zelenskiy says as receives Scholz
Russia ready to open fire on foreign vessels that illegally enter its waters: Report
