United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday it was “totally unacceptable” to talk about a nuclear conflict at a Security Council meeting on Ukraine, and effectively warned that so-called referendums in areas under Russian control would result in annexation.
Referendums on Russia’s membership will take place from Friday to Tuesday in several Russian-controlled regions in eastern and southern Ukraine, which account for about 15% of Ukraine’s territory.
Guterres said he was concerned about the council’s plans for “so-called referenda” at the ministerial meeting. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will address the 15-member council, but was not in the hall to listen to Guterres’ comments.
“Any annexation of a State’s territory resulting from the threat or use of force by another State is a violation of the UN Charter and international law,” Guterres said. Said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday threatened to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia.
The Security Council meeting on the atrocities committed in Ukraine takes place during the annual meeting of world leaders for the UN General Assembly. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 just as the Security Council met in New York to discuss Western concerns about such a move by Moscow.
The council could not take any meaningful action on Ukraine, as Russia is a permanent member with veto power, as are the USA, France, the United Kingdom and China. Thursday’s meeting will mark at least the 20th meeting of the Security Council to discuss Ukraine this year.
source: Noticias
