'Senseless war' in Ukraine must stop: UN chief

By Askin Kiyagan

VIENNA (AA) - The UN's top official on Wednesday repeated calls for the "senseless war" between Russia and Ukraine to come to an end.

"The Russian invasion of Ukraine is causing massive devastation, destruction, and suffering in the country, triggering the largest displacement in Europe since World War II -- and sending shockwaves across the region and world," Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters after a meeting in Vienna with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen.

Guterres underlined that the conflict has caused global crises in food, energy, and finance, with "devastating impacts on the most vulnerable people, countries, and economies."

"This senseless war must stop," he stressed, adding that, "dramatic as it is," the conflict must not cause people to forget the global threat of climate change.

At least 3,459 civilians have been killed and 3,713 others injured since Russia launched the war on Ukraine on Feb. 24, according to UN estimates. The true toll is feared to be much higher.

More than 5.98 million people have fled to other countries, with some 7.7 million people internally displaced, according to the UN refugee agency.