UN Chief Calls on Putin to 'Give Peace a Chance' in Russia-Ukraine Crisis

Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says he has one message for Russian President Vladimir Putin “if indeed an operation is being prepared” in Ukraine. "Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died," Guterres said. Putin decided to conduct a special operation to “protect” the Donbas region of Ukraine, TASS reported on Thursday, citing a speech from the Russian president. Putin said Russia doesn’t plan to occupy Ukraine, while urging Ukrainian forces to put down their arms and go home, the report said. He added that Russia wouldn’t let Ukraine secure nuclear arms, it said. The Kremlin said Wednesday that separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine had appealed to Putin for help fighting Ukrainian forces. The two self-proclaimed republics in Donetsk and Luhansk sought help under treaties Putin signed with their leaders Monday. Putin has for months sustained a large troop buildup around Ukraine, with the U.S. estimating around 150,000 soldiers are now in the area, alongside artillery and tanks. Russia has repeatedly rejected U.S. allegations that Putin intends to invade Ukraine as “hysteria” and propaganda. The Donetsk and Luhansk separatists held about 30% of the territory of the two Ukrainian regions as of Wednesday, with the rest under the control of government forces. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2TwO8Gm Subscribe to our newest channel Quicktake Explained: https://bit.ly/3iERrup Bloomberg Quicktake brings you live global news and original shows spanning business, technology, politics and culture. Make sense of the stories changing your business and your world. To watch complete coverage on Bloomberg Quicktake 24/7, visit http://www.bloomberg.com/qt/live, or watch on Apple TV, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Fire TV and Android TV on the Bloomberg app. Have a story to tell? Fill out this survey for a chance to have it featured on Bloomberg Quicktake: https://cor.us/surveys/27AF30 Connect with us on… YouTube:    / bloomberg   Breaking News on YouTube:    / bloombergqu.  . Twitter:   / quicktake   Facebook:   / quicktake   Instagram:   / quicktake