The possibility of a peace agreement in Ukraine remains a long way off, UN Secretary-General António Guterres admitted yesterday after a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We are still far from a peace agreement. (…) I would be lying if I said that this will happen quickly,” Guterres said in a press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York.
According to the UN secretary-general, the chances of a ceasefire “are minimal”, stressing that he will continue to pursue this objective.
The UN leader discussed the situation in Ukraine with Putin today and, as he detailed, discussed with the Russian President the possibilities of extending the agreement for the export of cereals through the Black Sea, as well as ways to facilitate the sales of Russian fertilizers and the issue of Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporijia.
Guterres said that the UN is trying to mediate talks so that Russian exports of ammonia through the Black Sea are resumed, with an extension of the international agreement that allowed the unblocking of Ukrainian ports to release millions of tons of cereals from that country.
Ammonia is widely used in fertilizer development and Russia is one of the world’s leading fertilizer producers, but sales have been significantly reduced since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with Moscow denouncing the existence of many obstacles.
While the United States and the European Union have clarified that their sanctions do not affect Russian food and fertilizers, for now many private companies are reluctant to be involved in such operations, according to UN sources.
Guterres and Putin also addressed, in today’s call, the situation of prisoners of war and the mission that the United Nations will send to investigate the attack on a prison in Olenivka, Ukraine, where 50 Ukrainian prisoners died, whose authorship is the subject of accusations. Crusades between Moscow and Kiev.
According to Guterres, Russia has promised not to put any obstacles in the way of UN investigators and will allow them to carry out their work.
Asked about recent advances by Ukrainian troops and the significance of these maneuvers for a possible end to the war, unleashed by Moscow at the end of February, Guterres said: “We are still far from peace.”
Guterres also recalled that the war in Ukraine is devastating a country and sinking the global economy, with dramatic consequences, especially for poor countries.
The conflict in Ukraine will be a hot topic among international leaders who will be in New York next week to participate in the annual meetings of the UN General Assembly, although Guterres today highlighted the importance of dealing with other crises, such as food and climate.
“This year’s General Debate should be about giving hope. That hope can only come through the dialogue and debate that are the beating heart of the United Nations”, concluded António Guterres.
