ADDS DETAILS THROUGHOUT
By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON (AA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Ukraine and Russia to immediately agree to a humanitarian cease-fire to allow for the parties to negotiate an end to the month-long conflict.
Guterres said he is tasking Martin Griffiths, his humanitarian affairs coordinator, to work with Kyiv and Moscow on laying the groundwork for a cease-fire. Griffiths is expected to go to both capitals "as soon as that becomes possible," Guterres said.
The diplomatic appointment comes as Russia's war continues to lead to the "senseless loss" of thousands of lives, and the "systematic destruction of essential infrastructure and skyrocketing food and energy prices worldwide," Guterres said.
"This must stop," he told reporters at the UN's New York headquarters. "I strongly appeal to the parties to this conflict and to the international community as a whole, to work with us for peace, in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and across the world."
The UN chief's appeal comes as Russia and Ukraine prepare for two days of peace talks set to begin in Istanbul on Tuesday. Several rounds of peace talks in Belarus have so far failed to result in progress between the parties.
On March 10, Turkiye made headlines worldwide for hosting the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers in the southern city of Antalya, the highest-level meeting of the two sides since the war began on Feb. 24.
Guterres said he has been "in very close contact" with Turkiye, Qatar, Israel and other nations seeking to mediate an end to hostilities.
Russia’s war on Ukraine has been met with international outrage, with the European Union, US, and the UK, among others, implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.
At least 1,151 civilians have been killed in Ukraine and 1,842 injured, according to estimates by the UN, which cautioned that the true figure is likely far higher.
More than 3.87 million Ukrainians have also fled to neighboring countries, with millions more displaced inside the country, according to the UN refugee agency