Ukraine-Russia conflict: UN chief Antonio Guterres warns world headed towards ‘wider war’

As he read out a list of urgent issues for 2023, Antonio Guterres warned the prospect for peace is diminishing as the Ukraine war rages on.

UN chief Antonio Guterres warned nations 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 on Monday 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.

Mr 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.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world could be headed into a wider war because of the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Picture: AFP

The secretary-general said he was taking it as a warning sign.

“We need to wake up – and get to work,” he implored, as he read out a list of urgent issues for 2023.

Top of the list was Russia’s war in Ukraine, which is approaching its one-year anniversary.

“The prospects for peace keep diminishing. The chances of further escalation and bloodshed keep growing,” he said.

“I fear the world is not sleepwalking into a wider war. I fear it is doing so with its eyes wide open.”

Mr Guterres referenced other threats to peace, from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to Afghanistan, Myanmar, the Sahel and Haiti.

“If every country fulfilled its obligations under the (UN) Charter, the right to peace would be guaranteed,” he said.

NORWAY PLEDGES AIDE PACKAGE

Accused of being a war profiteer as prices for its gas have soared, Norway on Monday unveiled a major aide package for Ukraine and other countries affected by the conflict with Russia.

The government proposed a five-year aid package to Ukraine worth 75 billion kroner ($7.3 billion or $A10.6bn).

“We are proposing that Norway gives a binding and lasting contribution to Ukraine, over several years,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store told reporters.

“Ukraine should know that we stand by its side … and Russia should understand that free and democratic countries are supporting Ukraine,” he said.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store (C) with ministers during a presentation of the government's plans of a multi-billion dollar aid package to Ukraine. Picture: NTB / AFP / Norway OUT

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude on Twitter, welcoming it as a “significant contribution to our future victory over the aggressor and successful post-war recovery”.

The package of 15 billion kroner per year is expected to cover humanitarian and military aid and will be divided equally between the two for this year.

The final amount of the package may however be changed by parliament, where the centre-left government does not hold a majority and relies on the backing of other parties to pass legislation.

The Scandinavian country’s aid to Kyiv had until now appeared modest. Oslo donated 10.7 billion kroner to civilian and military aid in 2022.

A Ukrainian service man rides on a main battle tank in Bakhmut, Ukraine. The country’s military have begged Western nations to step up aid. Picture: AFP

PUTIN SEEN WITH NUKE BRIEFCASE

A chilling photo has emerged of Russian President Vladimir Putin with his “nuclear briefcase” in a move to taunt to the West.

Two of Mr Putin’s security guards could be seen carrying black cases as he laid flowers in Volgograd on the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the battle of Stalingrad.

The Russian president was paying tribute to the fallen Soviet soldiers at the Mamayev Kurgan memorial.

Two of Putin's aides seen with briefcases – one of which is thought to contain the Kremlin's nuke button

One of the briefcases is believed to be a fold-up shield to protect Mr Putin in the event of shooting, while the other is understood to contain the launch button for the Kremlin’s nukes.

The bag — which has a personalised key code and is supervised by an armed security officer — is under 24/7 supervision and understood to control Moscow‘s nuclear arsenal.

One of the security officers pictured just metres from Mr Putin was previously spotted close to him during the Ukraine war.

Vladimir Putin visits the Mamayev Kurgan World War Two Memorial in Volgograd. Picture: AFP.

The briefcase, called Cheget in Russian, was developed in the early 1980s and was shown to the world for first time in 2019, with its contents being viewed up close on TV.

The case is often seen in the hands of an aide and there are reportedly three in total.

It comes as Russia warned it will “gain the world‘s attention” on the one year anniversary of the Ukraine invasion.

Originally published as Ukraine-Russia conflict: UN chief Antonio Guterres warns world headed towards ‘wider war’