UN: World Sleepwalking Into Wider War In Ukraine

The UN secretary general has said he fears the world is "sleepwalking into a wider war" in Ukraine.

- Michelle Nichols, Tom Balmforth

Addressing the UN General Assembly just weeks ahead of the first anniversary of Russia's invasion, Antonio Guterres said that the "prospects for peace keep diminishing" and that the chances of further "escalation and bloodshed keep growing".

"I fear the world is not sleepwalking into a wider war. I fear it is doing so with its eyes wide open," he added, saying that war is "inflicting untold suffering on the Ukrainian people, with profound global implications".

Ukraine has sent mixed messages about the fate of its defence minister, leaving a key post in its war effort in doubt even as it braces for what it believes will be a new Russian offensive. The questions left dangling over the defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov, are a first public sign of serious disarray in Ukraine's wartime leadership, until now remarkably united during almost a year of all-out Russian military assault.

A day after announcing that Mr Reznikov would be sidelined, a top ally of president Volodymyr Zelensky appeared to row back for now, saying no personnel changes in the defence sector would be made this week. David Arakhamia, chief of the parliamentary bloc of Mr Zelensky's party, had said the head of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, would take over the defence ministry, while Mr Reznikov would be made minister of strategic industries.