Guterres asks Lavrov to stop the “devastation” of Ukraine

United Nations, United States. The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, denounced yesterday, April 24, in the presence of the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, the “devastation” of Ukraine caused by the Russian invasion.

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in violation of the United Nations Charter and international law, is causing enormous suffering and devastation in the country and in the world,” adding to the “economic shock world” that generated the covid-19 pandemic, Guterres said at a session of the Security Council chaired by the Russian foreign minister.

Lavrov chaired the meeting on multilateralism and the UN Charter because Russia holds the monthly rotating presidency during April.

The UN chief recalled that the international multilateral system is undergoing its “greatest tensions” since the creation of the United Nations 78 years ago and warned of the “risks of conflict” due to “misfortune or miscalculation.”

“We must find a way to move forward and act now, as we have done before, to stop the slide into chaos and conflict,” he said before adding that “it is time to deepen cooperation and strengthen multilateral institutions, to find solutions common to common challenges”.

The members of this Council, particularly those who enjoy the privilege of permanent action, “have a particular responsibility to make multilateralism work, instead of contributing to its dismemberment,” he urged.

“Look at the eyes”

The US ambassador to the UN asked Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday for his country to release a journalist and a former “marine” detained by his country.

“I ask you, at this time, to release Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich immediately. Allow Paul and Evan to return home,” Linda Thomas-Greenfield said during the Security Council session in New York.

In the presence of Whelan’s sister, Thomas-Greenfield urged Lavrov to “look her straight in the eye and see her suffering.”

The diplomat assured that Vladimir Putin’s regime uses men as “political bargaining chips” and “human pawns.”

“Using people as pawns is a strategy of weakness. These are not acts of a responsible country. And while Russia plays political games, real people suffer,” he said.