The head of the UN warned that a nuclear conflict over Ukraine is “within the realm of possibility”

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres sounded the alarm on Monday about Russia's increased alert level for its nuclear forces after invading Ukraine, describing it as a “chilling development.”

“The prospect of a previously unthinkable nuclear conflict is now back within the realm of possibility,” Guterres told reporters, repeating his call for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine that began on February 24 has so far sent more than 2.8 million people to flee across Ukraine's borders and has trapped hundreds of thousands in besieged cities while triggering extensive Western sanctions against Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said late last month that his country's nuclear forces should be on high alert, raising fears that Russia's invasion of Ukraine could lead to nuclear war. US officials have said they have so far seen no reason to change Washington's nuclear alert levels.

Russia and the United States have by far the largest arsenals of nuclear warheads after the Cold War that divided the world for much of the 20th century, pitting the West against the Soviet Union and its allies.

Guterres has also called for the preservation of the safety of nuclear facilities after a fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, the largest of its kind in Europe, which broke out during the takeover of the plant by Russian forces.

“It's time to stop the horror unleashed upon the people of Ukraine and set out on the path of diplomacy and peace,” Guterres said.

He also said that the UN would allocate another $40 million from its central emergency response fund to increase humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

“This funding will help bring critical supplies of food, water, medicine and other life-saving aid to the country, as well as provide cash assistance,” Guterres said.

The current Chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Zbigniew Rau, told a meeting of the UN Security Council that Russia's aggression threatens the existence of the OSCE, which has nearly 60 members, including Russia.

“Their failure to comply with OSCE principles and commitments raises questions not only about the future of the organization, but also about the stability of the rules-based order,” Rau said, urging both the UN and the OSCE to strengthen efforts to restore peace.

“The smoking ashes of Kiev, Kharkiv and Mariupol and the loss of thousands of innocent lives are a clear reminder of the high price we pay for indifference to brute force,” he said.

(With information from Reuters)

Keep reading: