António Guterres calls for restraint in Middle East and Ukraine

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for “maximum restraint” regarding escalating conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan, Guterres emphasized the need for a “peaceful and just” solution to the situation in Iran to ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

Addressing the crisis in Gaza, Guterres urged respect for existing ceasefires and the full implementation of the peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. He called for the immediate removal of obstacles to humanitarian aid and advocated for a two-state solution involving independent, sovereign, and democratic states. Additionally, he addressed the ongoing war in Ukraine, calling for an “immediate and total ceasefire” to facilitate negotiations for a lasting peace.

Guterres also advocated for the reform of multilateral institutions and the international financial system to provide greater representation for developing nations and promote a more just multipolar world order.