Russia-Ukraine: I regret inefficiency of United Nations to tackle the war – UN secretary general Guterres

The United Nations has had its hands tied over the war in Ukraine because Russia is a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Guterres however said the war “demonstrated the enormous value of humanitarian action led by the UN.”

“The UN is probably the only platform that was able to seriously talk to both sides to try and solve not the war unfortunately but some specific problems that have dramatic impacts at the global level,” the UN secretary general told a press conference.

A UN-brokered grain deal between Russia and Ukraine in July allowed Ukrainian grain to enter world markets, averting a further surge in world food prices.

Guttteres’ statement comes as Ukraine’s president, Volodimir Zelenskyy says Ukrainian troops are advancing in parts of Donbas and making small advances in some areas.

“On the whole, we are holding our positions,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address.

“There are also some areas of the front where we are advancing a bit.”

He added that Ukraine strengthened its anti-aircraft capability and would further strengthen it in the new year to protect both itself and the entire European continent.