HAMILTON, Canada

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Tuesday of further conflict escalation and spillover if the Russia-Ukraine war continues, stressing the urgency of breaking the cycle of violence and putting an end to suffering in both countries.

He made these remarks at the UN Security Council's high-level session on Ukraine.

The UN is founded on the principle of respect for the sovereignty of all member states, Guterres emphasized, adding that the UN Charter stipulates that all countries must refrain from using force against another state's territorial integrity.

"Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 – following the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and City of Sevastopol a decade ago – is a clear violation of these principles," he said.

Noting the death toll in the Ukrainian war continues to rise, he said nearly 10 million people have been forced to flee their homes.

He also strongly condemned all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Urging increased assistance to Ukraine, he said: "15 million people in Ukraine require humanitarian assistance – more than half of them women and girls."

The UN chief added that 11,000 civilians have been killed since the invasion of Ukraine and warned that "the longer this tragic war continues, the greater the risk of escalation and spillover."

He feared that the continuation of the Russia-Ukraine war would "further deepen global tensions and divisions.

"We must stop the suffering and break the cycle of violence – for the sake of the people of Ukraine, the people of Russia, and the world."

Guterres noted that initiatives like the Black Sea Grain Initiative and prisoner exchanges demonstrate that diplomacy can succeed even in the "darkest hour" when political will exists.

He called for increased efforts for peace in Ukraine and reaffirmed the UN's readiness to support all efforts toward this goal.