UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he believes Russia’s war in Ukraine will “continue” and sees no prospects for “serious” peace talks in the near future, The Guardian reports.

Speaking to reporters at his annual wrap-up conference in New York, Guterres said he would “not abandon the pursuit of peace in Ukraine in accordance with international law and the UN Charter,” referring to the UN Charter’s key principle of respect for sovereignty. and territorial integrity.

He said he was not optimistic about the possibility of effective peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in the near future, adding: “I think the military confrontation will continue.”

However, he said he “very much hopes that peace can be reached in 2023, citing the dire consequences for the people of Ukraine, Russian society and the global economy if no agreement is reached.”

“All this is the basis for us to do everything possible so that a peaceful solution takes place by the end of 2023,” he said.

In the meantime, he said he would focus on improving the effectiveness of the U.N.-brokered deal that restored food and fertilizer supplies to the Black Sea from Ukraine, continue efforts to restore Russian ammonia exports through Ukraine and try to speed up prisoner exchanges. war