United Nations appeals for diplomacy

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says he spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, and stressed to them "there is no alternative to diplomacy."

Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General said "I am deeply worried by the heightened tensions and increased speculation about a potential military conflict in Europe. The price in human suffering, destruction and damage to European and global security is too high to contemplate. We simply cannot accept even the possibility of such a disastrous confrontation. And my message is clear that there is no alternative to diplomacy. All issues, including the most intractable, can and must be addressed and resolved through diplomatic frameworks. It is my firm belief that this principle will prevail."

 The Kremlin signaled on Monday it was ready to keep talking with the West about security grievances that led to the current Ukraine crisis, offering hope that Russia might not invade its neighbor within days as the US and European allies increasingly fear.