UN chief on Ukraine: "We must give peace another chance" - Media Stakeout (25 February 2022)
Channel: The Awkward Motivator
Date: 2022-02-26

Statements to the media by Secretary General of the United Nations on the situation in Ukraine directly following the 8979th meeting of the Security Council.

Full Remarks
https://www.un.org/sg/en/node/262088

Following a Security Council vote on the situation in Ukraine, vetoed by the Russian Federation, Secretary-General António Guterres said, “the United Nations was born out of war to end war. Today, that objective was not achieved. But we must never give up. We must give peace another chance.”

The Secretary-General said, “soldiers need to return to their barracks. Leaders need to turn to the path of dialogue and peace.”

Guterres announced the appointment of Amin Awad, as the UN Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine.

Awad, he said, “will lead the coordination of all our efforts, including our humanitarian response, on both sides of the contact line.”

Awad, who has served in a range of senior roles with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), including as Director for the Bureau for the Middle East and North Africa and Director of Division of Emergency, Security and Supply, brings with him over 30 years of experience in the field of humanitarian affairs, strategic action, planning and development.

The Secretary-General stressed that “all concerned in this conflict must respect international humanitarian law and guarantee the safety and freedom of movement of UN staff and other humanitarians.” 

He told journalists gathered outside the Security Council that “the United Nations Charter has been challenged in the past, but it has stood firm on the side of peace, security, development, justice, international law and human rights.”

Time after time, he said, “when the international community has rallied together in solidarity, those values have prevailed” and added “they will prevail, independently of what happened today.” 

Also talking to reporters, flanked by dozens of ambassadors, the United States Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield said, “we thank the member states who signed as co-sponsors of this resolution for standing with the Ukraine and for the UN Charter today, we will be taking this matter to the General Assembly where the Russian veto does not apply. And the nations of the world will continue to hold Russia accountable.”

The General Assemble is expected to meet in the coming days and will seek to adopt a resolution on the matter.