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NEW YORK - United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo on Wednesday called for an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, saying diplomatic efforts must be matched by meaningful de-escalation to pave the way for a "just, comprehensive and lasting peace”, reported Xinhua.
Speaking at the Security Council, DiCarlo warned that the conflict was entering a dangerous new phase, with attacks intensifying, civilian casualties mounting, destruction spreading and the risk of regional spillover growing.
Nearly five years into the conflict, Russia and Ukraine face a stark choice between an even larger conflict and a conscious decision to pursue peace, she said, warning that the consequences would be felt far beyond the battlefield and would affect international peace and security.
Since the outbreak of the conflict in February 2022, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has verified that at least 17,257 civilians have been killed and 53,693 others injured in Ukraine, DiCarlo said.
The civilian impact of the conflict inside Russia has also grown significantly over the past year.
From January through August, Russian authorities reported that 443 civilians were killed and 2,932 others injured in Russia, a sharp increase from the same period last year, she said.
"International humanitarian law is clear. Attacks directed against civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited. These attacks are unacceptable and must stop immediately,” DiCarlo said. - BERNAMA