UNITED NATIONS - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a last-minute plea on Wednesday (Feb 23) to Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the war "in the name of humanity", after the Russian leader announced a military operation in eastern Ukraine.

"President Putin, in the name of humanity, bring your troops back to Russia," Guterres said, speaking after an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Ukraine.

The consequences of a war would be devastating for Ukraine and far-reaching for the global economy, he added.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.asiaone.com/world/putin-authorises-military-operation-ukraines-donbass" target="_blank">Putin authorises military operation in Ukraine's Donbass</a>

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia attend a United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine with Russia, in New York City, US, on Feb 23, 2022. 

UN (United Nations)

Russia-Ukraine conflict

Politics and Government

VLADIMIR PUTIN

Reuters

UNITED NATIONS - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a last-minute plea on Wednesday (Feb 23) to Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the war "in the name of humanity", after the Russian leader announced a military operation in eastern Ukraine. "President Putin, in the name of humanity, bring your troops back to Russia," Guterres said, speaking after an emergency...

UN Secretary-General to Putin: In the name of humanity, stop this war