عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
World

UN Chief Urges States to Focus on Crisis Solutions, Not Border Controls

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi talks to reporters during a visit to the Jdeidat Yabus border crossing in southwestern Syria as displaced people arrive from Lebanon on October 7, 2024. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi talks to reporters during a visit to the Jdeidat Yabus border crossing in southwestern Syria as displaced people arrive from Lebanon on October 7, 2024. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
TT
20
TT

UN Chief Urges States to Focus on Crisis Solutions, Not Border Controls

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi talks to reporters during a visit to the Jdeidat Yabus border crossing in southwestern Syria as displaced people arrive from Lebanon on October 7, 2024. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi talks to reporters during a visit to the Jdeidat Yabus border crossing in southwestern Syria as displaced people arrive from Lebanon on October 7, 2024. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)

The head of the UN refugee agency on Monday urged countries to focus on solutions to crises and to drop measures to block refugees and migrants at their borders, saying they are ineffective and sometimes illegal.
Addressing over 100 diplomats and ministers in Geneva at UNHCR's annual meeting, Filippo Grandi said an unprecedented 123 million people are displaced around the world, Reuters reported.
"You might then ask: what can be done? For a start, do not focus only on your borders," he said, urging leaders instead to look at the reasons people are fleeing their homes.

Most Viewed

 
World

Russia Says Western Arms Flows to Ukraine Would Need to Stop During Any Ceasefire

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic in Kremlin, Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during the World War II. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via Reuters)
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic in Kremlin, Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during the World War II. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via Reuters)
TT
20
TT

Russia Says Western Arms Flows to Ukraine Would Need to Stop During Any Ceasefire

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic in Kremlin, Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during the World War II. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via Reuters)
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic in Kremlin, Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during the World War II. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via Reuters)

Russia would require a halt to US and European arms supplies to Ukraine during any potential ceasefire, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with ABC News.

"Otherwise, it will be an advantage for Ukraine. Ukraine will continue their total mobilization, bringing new troops to (the) frontline," Peskov said.

"Ukraine will use this period to train new military personnel and to give a rest to their existing ones. So why should we grant such an advantage to Ukraine?"

US President Donald Trump urged Russia and Ukraine on Friday to "get this stupid war finished", as he pushed for a 30-day ceasefire that Ukraine says it is willing to agree to.

But Peskov, in the interview, restated Russian concerns that Putin had made public as far back as March 13 and set out in a phone call with Trump on March 18.

"A ceasefire was supported by President Putin, but he asked several questions. He said that right now we have certain dynamics on the front, Russian troops are advancing, and advancing in quite a confident way," he said.

"So, if we speak about ceasefire, what are we going to do with shipments of weapons coming every day from the United States and from European countries?"

His comments underlined the lack of any shift in Russia's position on a ceasefire since mid-March. During that time Trump, who previously had applied intense pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has shown growing impatience with Russia and questioned whether Putin was "tapping me along".

Peskov denied that was the case, and said it was Ukraine that was refusing to enter direct negotiations.

"President Putin is doing whatever is possible to solve the problem, to achieve a settlement through peaceful and diplomatic means. But having no peaceful and diplomatic means at hand, we have to continue the military operation," he said.

Russia hoped that mediation by Trump would help to bring "a little bit more flexibility, a little bit more political will and wisdom to the Kyiv regime," Peskov said.

Putin declared a brief Easter ceasefire last month, which both sides accused each other of violating countless times, and another three-day pause this week as Russia marks the 80th anniversary of victory in World War Two. Ukraine did not agree to the latest truce, saying it wanted a halt of 30 days or more.