UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said peace negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine were "not possible at this moment," in an interview published by Spanish daily El Pais on Tuesday.
His statement came as the leaders of Russia and Ukraine both called for victory during events commemorating the end of World War II.
"It is clear that the [two] parties are completely absorbed in this war" and "are convinced that they can win," the UN chief was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
Guterres said he hoped it was possible "in the future" to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday at Moscow's Red Square Victory Day parade that the world was at a "turning point" and claimed a "war" had been unleashed against Russia.
The day before, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed that Russian forces would be vanquished "just as Nazism was defeated."
On Tuesday, Guterres received the Carlos V European Award, given to individuals and organizations that have contributed to the enhancement of Europe's cultural and historical values or to EU integration.
"Universal values, principles and ideas which unite us as the human family... have not been under so much threat since the creation of the United Nations," Guterres said.
"That's why we have to raise our voice and reaffirm our values. And above all, we need peace," he added.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
