UN chief fears war in Ukraine is expanding as world watches

February 7 (United Press International) — As the war in Ukraine approaches a year, the head of the United Nations said he fears it could expand into a wider conflict as the world focuses.

United Nations Attorney General Anthony Guterres warning on monday briefing Speaking in New York City on the priorities of the UN General Assembly this year, he noted that prospects for peace in the conflict continue to dim as the potential for further escalation and carnage increases.

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“I fear the world isn’t sleepwalking into a wider war. I fear it’s doing so with wide-eyed eyes,” he said.

Guterres points to the Doomsday Clock, whose hands end last month be touched 90 seconds to midnight, a metaphorical indicator of how close humanity is to nuclear annihilation. It was the closest to midnight and was moved to reflect tensions caused by Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.

“In fact, the Doomsday Clock is a global alarm clock,” Guterres said. “We need to wake up — and get to work.”

The world needs peace consistent with the UN Charter and international law, he said, noting that several other issues stand in the way of that prospect, including the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, Myanmar’s military leadership, the Sahel and Haiti The ongoing violence and disenfranchisement of women in Afghanistan, where there has also been a series of deadly terrorist attacks.

“We’ve started 2023, staring at a confluence of challenges,” he said. “The war continues. The climate crisis continues. Extreme wealth and extreme poverty still rage. The divide between rich and poor is widening.” Divide societies, nations and our wider world.

“This road is a dead end. We need to correct course,” he said.