United Nations calls on Russia and Ukraine to stop fighting

U.N. Secretary-general Antonio Guterres and a majority of security Council members including the United States, France and China called on Russia to stop fighting in Ukraine, but made no mention of resuming stalled peace talks between the two sides.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a meeting of the Security Council on Thursday that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a violation of the UN Charter. He reiterated that for the sake of Ukraine, Russia and the people of the world, this must stop.

It follows a visit by the UN secretary General to Moscow and Kiev to mediate humanitarian aid in Mariupol, where hundreds of civilians have been evacuated since the weekend.

Most security Council members, including China, the United States, Ireland and France, have called for an “end to the war.”

Zhang Jun, China’s ambassador to the UN General Assembly, said only dialogue and negotiations could bring the fighting to a halt, and he criticized arms shipments to Ukraine. Kenya’s ambassador Martin Kimani called on Guterres to mediate.

Ukraine’s ambassador to the UN General Assembly Sergei Kislizia said every opportunity should be seized to achieve peace.

Norway and Mexico, two non-permanent members of the Security Council, submitted a document expressing strong support for the UN secretary general’s offer to mediate to find a peaceful solution, diplomats said.

If the Council adopts the declaration, it would be the first show of unity since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

On whether Russia would veto, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the General Assembly, Alexander Polyansky, said: ‘We have time.’