UN chief welcomes agreements to end energy attacks in Ukraine – JURIST
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday welcomed announcements by the presidents of the US and Ukraine about the extension of the ceasefire to the Black Sea trade routes as an important move that saves lives, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the ceasefire brings about just peace.
Guterres stated:
Obviously, any ceasefire is welcome because it saves lives, but it is essential that a ceasefire paves the way for a just peace in Ukraine. And a just peace in Ukraine is a peace that respects the UN charter, international law, and Security Council resolutions, namely about the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
The statements came after Guterres met with 27 EU member states at a European Summit in Brussels. His comments in support of any ceasefire in Ukraine followed statements by US President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about Ukraine’s desire to extend the ceasefire regime to the Black Sea, which is used as an important trade route for food and fertilizer exports worldwide.
Despite positive steps, the current situation with the ceasefire and negotiations between Ukraine, the US, and Russia remains complex and dynamic. Trump held telephone conversations with the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, during which a 30-day ceasefire regarding energy infrastructure and a possible extension of the ceasefire regime to the Black Sea were discussed.
Ukraine agreed to the proposal while Russia rejected a complete ceasefire, agreeing to a 30-day halt of energy infrastructure strikes. Despite this, the attacks on Ukrainian energy and civil society have not stopped but even increased, becoming daily and causing destruction and death. Representative groups are planning to meet in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to discuss the details of implementing agreements on the expansion of the ceasefire and the safety of navigation in the Black Sea.
Giving a speech as a part of the work of the Brussels Summit, which aims to discuss recent events in Ukraine and the next steps in the field of defense, the secretary-general also highlighted the importance of the EU as a strategic partner of the UN. He expressed gratitude to the EU for its support and commitment to collaborative action, ensuring a safer planet and a better international community.
