Russia-Ukraine War: UN Secretary-General condemns invasion ahead of anniversary

The Russia-Ukraine war is set to enter its 365th day, and the UN Chief, Antonio Gueterres, has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at a meeting of the UN General Assembly.

It is considered the biggest European invasion since the end of World War II. On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent up to 2,00,000 soldiers into Ukraine.

As per a UN estimate, the destructive war has already taken the lives of at least 7,199 civilians and left thousands of others injured, but the real figures are expected to be much higher. The UN Chief categorically condemned the war and demanded the pullout of the Russian army without any condition.

According to the US military, at least 100,000 soldiers have been killed on both sides. The war led to the displacement of 13 million people, who became refugees inside or outside Ukraine.

Ukraine and its supporters rejected Putin’s declaration that his operation was required to ‘demilitarise and denazify’ Ukraine, a nation with a long history of relations to Russia, as a pretext for an unprovoked attack.

“That invasion is an affront to our collective conscience,” Guterres told the General Assembly. “It is a violation of the United Nations Charter and international law.”

The UN Chief said that the war was “responsible for regional instability and increasing global tensions and divisions,” Guterres said.

“Complacency will only deepen the crisis, while further eroding our shared principles proclaimed in the Charter.” War is not the solution. War is the problem. People in Ukraine are suffering enormously. “Ukrainians, Russians, and people far beyond need peace.”

A resolution that emphasises the requirement to reach lasting peace in Ukraine as soon as possible in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

The resolution, which carries political weight but is not legally enforceable, is likely to be approved by the UN. The vote may not, however, have a significant impact on Russia’s operations in Ukraine.

Voting will take place on Thursday night, the night before the invasion’s first anniversary.