UN warns Ukraine war risks spiralling ‘out of control’
28 May 2026
Peace and SecurityThe United Nations on Thursday warned of a dangerous escalation in the war in Ukraine after a wave of large-scale Russian strikes and threats of further attacks, with Secretary-General António Guterres saying “the death spiral must stop.”
Addressing the Security Council in New York, Mr. Guterres said the latest attacks launched by Russia on 23 and 24 May – and the prospect of additional strikes – underscored “the gravity of this moment.”“The current course is not sustainable,” he said. “This trajectory must change.”He warned that the intensifying conflict risked spiralling “out of control,” citing the dangers of miscalculation and “unknown and unintended consequences.”“What is needed now is de-escalation – immediate and sustained,” the Secretary-General said. “What is needed now is a full and unconditional ceasefire.”
UN Photo/Manuel Elías
