UN chief fears world headed for ‘wider war’ over Ukraine conflict
- Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ gloomy speech to the UN General Assembly focused on Russia’s invasion, the climate crisis and extreme poverty
- He noted that top scientists and security experts moved the ‘Doomsday Clock’ last month to the closest it has ever been to midnight
UN chief Antonio Guterres warned nations on Monday that he fears the likelihood of further escalation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict means the world is heading towards a “wider war”.
The secretary general laid out his priorities for the year in a gloomy speech to the United Nations General Assembly that focused on Russia’s invasion, the climate crisis and extreme poverty.
“We have started 2023 staring down the barrel of a confluence of challenges unlike any in our lifetimes,” he told diplomats in New York.
Guterres noted that top scientists and security experts had moved the “Doomsday Clock” to just 90 seconds to midnight last month, the closest it has ever been to signalling the annihilation of humanity.
The secretary general said he was taking it as a warning sign.