The United Nations has noted the surge in attacks by the Russian military on the civilian population of Ukraine, despite ongoing peace negotiations.

Source: UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya during a UN Security Council meeting, as reported by "Ukrinform".

Direct quote from DiCarlo: "In recent weeks, we have witnessed an intensification of efforts to engage the parties in negotiations.

These initiatives give us hope for progress towards a ceasefire and ultimately a peaceful resolution. At the same time, we continue to witness ongoing shelling of Ukrainian cities."

Details: DiCarlo noted that in April alone, at least 151 civilians were killed, and 697 were injured. According to her, this figure is even higher than in March, when the number of casualties was 1.5 times greater than in February.

She pointed out that despite claims of ceasing strikes on energy facilities, such attacks have continued.

Direct quote from DiCarlo: "The UN continues to address, among other issues, the safety of shipping in the Black Sea to support global food security and maintain vital supply chains, complicated by the war."

Details: She emphasized that the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation is "a blatant challenge to fundamental principles that threaten stability in Europe and the international order as a whole."

According to the Deputy Secretary-General, there is a need for "an immediate, unconditional ceasefire as the most crucial first step towards stopping the violence and creating conditions for a comprehensive and sustainable peace."

This peace, she added, must include "respect for the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, in accordance with the UN Charter, international law, and relevant UN resolutions."

In turn, Msuya noted that despite talks of peace, attacks on Ukraine have intensified.

She urged the Security Council to take "urgent collective action" regarding Ukraine, primarily to ensure the protection of civilians and critical infrastructure.

Additionally, she stated that financial support for Ukraine needs to be increased.

"Insufficient funding forces the scaling back of essential programs, despite the increasingly complex and dangerous operational environment," Msuya said.

Ultimately, achieving a just peace is necessary, she added.

Background: In response to Russian leader Vladimir Putin's statement about announcing another short-term "ceasefire," the UN stated that it wants to see an end to Russia's war against Ukraine based on international law and the organization's charter.