Barely a year after Russia invaded Ukraine, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of an escalation of the conflict and the use of nuclear weapons. “Over the past year, not only have we seen increasing suffering and devastation, it’s becoming increasingly clear how much worse things could get,” Guterres said yesterday at the opening of a special session of the UN General Assembly to mark the anniversary.
The possible consequences of a conflict spiral are a clear and present danger, Guterres continued. “We have since heard implicit threats to use nuclear weapons. The so-called tactical use of nuclear weapons is absolutely unacceptable.” It is high time to step back from the abyss.
One year after the start of the war, the largest UN body is to adopt a resolution today calling for peace and Moscow’s withdrawal. Dozens of speeches by high-ranking speakers are expected. In addition to Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, her US counterpart Antony Blinken and the British chief diplomat James Cleverly are also expected to speak.