On the 21st, UN Secretary General Guterres was deeply concerned about Russia's decision to recognize the "people's Republic of Donetsk" and "people's Republic of Lugansk" in eastern Ukraine, and urged relevant parties to give priority to diplomatic activities and solve all problems peacefully. Guterres issued a statement through a spokesman on the same day, calling on all parties to peacefully resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine in accordance with the Minsk agreement approved by the Security Council. The statement said that in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations still fully supports Ukraine's sovereign independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. The statement urges all parties concerned to immediately cease hostilities, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, prevent any actions and statements that may escalate the situation, and give priority to diplomatic activities to solve all problems peacefully. Guterres went to Germany last week to attend the 58th Munich Security Conference. In view of the deteriorating situation in Ukraine, Guterres has cancelled his planned visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and returned to New York on the 22nd. In April 2014, a large-scale armed conflict broke out between Ukrainian government forces and local civilian armed forces in Donbas, eastern Ukraine. The civilian armed forces then announced the establishment of the "people's Republic of Donetsk" and the "people's Republic of Lugansk". Through the mediation of the international community, the two parties to the conflict reached a ceasefire agreement in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, in September 2014 and February 2015 respectively. Since then, large-scale armed conflicts have been controlled, but small-scale exchanges of fire have occurred from time to time. Russia has been seeking a legal guarantee from NATO not to expand eastward and not to include Ukraine and other countries in NATO. However, since Biden became president of the United States in January last year, he has taken a tough stance against Russia, supported Ukraine's accession to NATO and increased military assistance to Ukraine. The situation in Ukraine is heating up again. Since the end of last year, relations between Russia and Ukraine have become more tense. Since the 17th of this month, the situation in eastern Ukraine has deteriorated. The Ukrainian government and local civilian armed forces accuse each other of launching provocative shelling in the contact line. On the evening of the 21st, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order to recognize the "Donetsk people's Republic" and "Lugansk people's Republic" in eastern Ukraine. (Xinhua News Agency)