With Russia refusing to back down even as the West starts imposing sanctions over the former's aggression against Ukraine, the United Nations General Assembly held a plenary session on February 23 to discuss the issue.
UN Secretary General called the situation the "most serious global security and peace crisis" in recent times. Antonio Guterres said that the latest developments in the region have been highly concerning, and Russia's move to recognise independence of separatist-controlled Ukrainian areas is a violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Guterres said that his office is fully committed to aiding efforts aimed at resolving the crisis without further bloodshed. He said that the UN cannot, and will not relent in the search for a peaceful solution.
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Speaking from the same stage, Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba issued a stark warning to representatives of gathered nations. He called Moscow's action of sending troops into the separatist-controlled Luhanks and Donetsk regions of Ukraine an "up front attack on the United Nations and core principles of international law, an ultimate blow to years of peace process and Russia's unilateral withdrawal from the Minsk agreements."
Kuleba added, "I warn every nation in this distinguished chamber, no one will be able to sit out this crisis if President Putin decides that he can move forward with his aggression against Ukraine. Your governments and your people will face painful consequences together with our government and our people."
The Ukrainian minister also pitched for a "severe" response to Russia's actions. "If Russia does not get a severe swift and decisive response now, this will mean a total bankruptcy of the international security system and international institutions, which are tasked with maintaining the global security order," he said.