Before the Security Council, the head of the UN denounces an "absurd war" in Ukraine
Antonio Guterres at the UN Security Council on August 24.
Getty Images via AFP - MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO
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As the conflict in Ukraine enters its seventh month, the UN Secretary General has called for peace before the Security Council.
Antonio Guterres says he is particularly concerned about the nuclear risk at the Zaporijjia power plant.
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Once again, the UN Security Council has met to discuss concerns about the war in Ukraine, reports our correspondent in New York,
Loubna Anaki.
Once again, the debates stopped there.
This meeting, which coincided with Ukrainian Independence Day, took place this Wednesday, August 24, in the presence of the UN Secretary General.
Back from Ukraine, Antonio Guterres presented his report on the situation to the members of the Council.
“
Today marks a sad and tragic milestone, six months since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24,
” he said, denouncing “
the consequences of this senseless war, far beyond of Ukraine
”.
In particular, he repeated "
his deep concern
" about the military activities around the Zaporijjia nuclear power plant.
"
Any further escalation of the situation could lead to self
-destruction," he said.
“An unjustifiable and brutal war”
Antonio Guterres also gave an update on the resumption of grain exports from the port of Odessa and insisted on the risk of an aggravation of
the food crisis
.
“
If this situation persists, there simply won't be enough food in 2023
,” the UN chief said.
A food crisis to which the Ukrainian president also returned, who addressed the Council by videoconference.
“
The world sees how dependent it is on our independence
,” Volodymyr Zelensky said.
For their part, the other members of the Security Council have called for an end to the war.
“
An unjustifiable and brutal war
”, according to the representative of the United States.
Denouncing the “
campaign
” of Western countries to “
discredit
” Russia, Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the UN, blamed all the responsibility for the war on Ukraine.
In a joint statement read by the Ukrainian ambassador after the meeting, some fifty countries including the Europeans, Japan, the United States, Colombia, Turkey or South Korea "
repeated their demand for an immediate cessation hostilities by Russia against Ukraine
".
►Also read: Ukraine: six months after the Russian invasion, a conflict with an uncertain outcome
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Ukraine
Russia
UN
Volodymyr Zelensky
Antonio Guterres