UN chief talks to ‘minimise human suffering’

As he begins discussions in Russia today, the UN Secretary-General says his objective is to “minimise human suffering” in Ukraine.

Before meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and holding a press conference, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged for a cease-fire “as soon as feasible.”

During his opening remarks, Mr. Guterres stated that there are “many views of what is happening in Ukraine.”

However, this “does not preclude the potential of having a really serious discourse to minimise people’s pain,” he noted.
Before the meeting, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned Mr. Guterres should “concentrate exclusively” on one topic – the evacuation of Mariupol – and risk slipping into a “Kremlin trap.”

Ukraine has also accused the UN of “lagging behind” in delivering humanitarian assistance to the country.

Igor Zhovkva, deputy director of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration, told NBC that Mr Guterres’ visit to Moscow was “not a smart idea,” and that he doubted it would “end up with any effect.”

Mr Guterres, he added, is “not really” authorised to speak on behalf of the Ukrainian government.

Before heading to Ukraine on Thursday, the UN Secretary-General will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mr. Guterres’ visit follows heated remarks from Mr. Lavrov, who stated Moscow is practically at war with NATO and that the possibility of nuclear war “should not be underestimated.”

Western-supplied weapons “will be a legitimate target,” Mr Lavrov said, adding that “everyone is singing incantations that in no situation can we allow World War Three.”

He went on to accuse Ukrainian officials of inciting Russia by requesting NATO to intervene in the crisis, saying, “NATO, in essence, is engaged in a war with Russia through a proxy and is equipping that proxy.”

“War is war.”

Mr. Kuleba, on the other hand, stated that Mr. Lavrov’s remarks demonstrated that “Moscow sees defeat in Ukraine.”

“Russia’s last try to frighten the world away from helping Ukraine,” he tweeted. As a result, there is discussion of a’real’ threat of World War Three.”

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