UN official: Comprehensive dialogue and negotiations represent the "only way" to change the course of the war in Ukraine
New York, July 10 (KUNA) -- A United Nations official emphasized that comprehensive and purposeful dialogue and negotiations represent the “only way” to alter the “dangerous” trajectory of the war in Ukraine, warning that the continued conflict has “torn the lives of millions apart,” displaced large numbers of families, and destroyed thousands of homes and communities. This was stated in a briefing delivered by the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, at an emergency session convened by the UN Security Council on Thursday evening to discuss developments in Ukraine.
DiCarlo said that the capital, Kyiv, and other Ukrainian cities experienced three major waves of Russian airstrikes during the past week, leading to a “concerning rise in civilian casualties and an expansion of the scope of destruction.” She added that these attacks reflect a “clear pattern” of targeting “high-density urban centers and causing severe damage to residential buildings,” thereby leaving “dangerous” humanitarian consequences for civilians, and she reiterated the UN’s strongest condemnation of these attacks.
DiCarlo explained that the escalation of military operations continues to harm civilians in Ukrainian territories “temporarily occupied by Russia,” while noting that Ukraine has continued to carry out drone attacks inside Russian territory targeting oil, industrial, and military infrastructure. The Under-Secretary-General stressed that any attacks targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure, wherever they occur, constitute a “blatant violation” of international humanitarian law and must stop “immediately.”
She also warned that civilians in Ukrainian territories “temporarily occupied by Russia” continue to be subjected to what are alleged to be “widespread and systematic human rights violations” by the occupation authorities. DiCarlo cautioned that the war undermines international law, threatens regional peace and security, and imposes heavy costs on all parties, while Ukrainian civilians bear “the brunt” of the suffering.
The UN official concluded her briefing by calling on all concerned member states to utilize all diplomatic tools and channels to urgently de-escalate the situation. She affirmed that achieving an “immediate, comprehensive, and unconditional” ceasefire can no longer be delayed and that such a ceasefire should pave the way toward a “just, lasting, and comprehensive” peace. (End) A.S.T. / M.A.A.
