Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– UNGA update
– Secretary-General/Nuclear Weapons
– Ukraine/Russia
– Myanmar
– Malaysia
– Haiti
– Haiti/Humanitarian
– Sudan
– DR Congo
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Syria
– UNICEF/Jordan
– El Niño/Central Emergency Response Fund
– Refugees
– International Day
UNGA UPDATE
This year, the Secretary-General had 147 bilateral meetings, starting from the meeting with the Foreign Minister of Morrocco on Wednesday, 16 September to the meeting with the Foreign Minister of India today, Tuesday, 29 September.
So far, 138 readouts have been issued and shared with you and after today, the total will be 140.
SECRETARY-GENERAL / NUCLEAR WEAPONS
This morning, the Secretary-General delivered remarks at the plenary meeting marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. He warned that we are at the most dangerous nuclear moment since the end of the Cold War, with arsenals expanding, nuclear rhetoric growing louder and safeguards built over decades breaking down.
Mr. Guterres stressed that disarmament is not a favour but a binding legal obligation. He called on countries possessing nuclear weapons to return to dialogue, prevent any use of a nuclear weapon and reduce the role of nuclear weapons in their security policies. He also urged the United States and the Russian Federation to negotiate a successor framework to New START.
The Secretary-General called on countries to choose a future free from nuclear weapons, stressing that these devices of death must never decide the fate of humanity.
UKRAINE/RUSSIA
The Secretary-General is alarmed by the scale of escalating daily attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, by the armed forces of the Russian Federation, which are reportedly causing a record number of civilian casualties. This includes yesterday’s appalling attack on Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences in Kyiv. He is equally concerned by the rising number of civilian casualties as a result of increasing attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces in the Russian Federation.
The Secretary-General strongly condemns all attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, wherever they occur, and urges an immediate end to this dangerous escalatory spiral.
The Secretary-General calls for re-energized focus on diplomacy to urgently de-escalate tensions and pave the way for an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire, as a first step towards a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with international law, including the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions. The United Nations stands ready to support all meaningful efforts to that end.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-09-29