Stop conflict with Ukraine for 'humanity's' sake, UN tells Putin

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. PHOTO | AFP

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a direct, impassioned plea Wednesday to Vladimir Putin to stop -- "in the name of humanity" -- the Russian military assault on Ukraine.

Speaking after an emergency Security Council session, which coincided with the Russian president's announcement of military operations against Ukraine, a clearly emotional Guterres said it was "the saddest day" of his tenure as UN chief.