UN chief Antonio Guterres expresses concern over Russia-Ukraine crisis

Head of United Nations Antonio Guterres spoke to foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine yesterday and has expressed serious concern over the heightened tensions between the countries.

Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said during the telephonic conversation, Guterres told Russia’s top diplomat Sergei Lavrov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba that diplomacy was the only way forward.

He welcomed the ongoing diplomatic discussions to defuse tensions and underlined yet again the fact that there is no alternative to dialogue. Dujarric said Guterres was still convinced that Russia will not invade Ukraine.

The Security Council is to hold an annual meeting on Ukraine and the Minsk agreements, on Thursday.