Members of the Group of Friends for Peace convened at the United Nations and advocated for diplomatic solutions on Thursday to call for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in Ukraine's conflict.
China, Brazil and other Global South nations formed the Group of Friends for Peace last year to uphold the UN Charter, foster consensus for a political resolution to the crisis and advance the prospects of peace.
The "highly successful meeting" focused on recent developments in the Ukraine conflict, ongoing dynamics surrounding peace talks, and prospects for lasting peace, said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, in a statement.
Highlighting that only a negotiated political solution, including inclusive diplomacy and political means based on the UN Charter, can bring this conflict to an end, Fu said that the group members "stand ready to contribute to a peaceful resolution to the conflict and a better future for all."
The group is worried about the risks and crises arising from the conflict, which has caused repercussions affecting many countries, including those in the Global South, according to the statement.
"Issues such as food and energy security, as well as humanitarian assistance, should be integral to the peace process, and the voices of the Global South should be heard and heeded in supporting peace in the region," read the statement.
Group of Friends for Peace calls for immediate, comprehensive ceasefire in Ukraine crisis
Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday that the country is at a critical stage and must achieve national unity, emphasizing that maintaining internal cohesion is of utmost importance.
In a televised address, Rodriguez called on the public to continue trusting the government under the current highly complex political circumstances.
Her statement comes in the wake of a January 3 military operation conducted by the United States, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of the country.
The operation resulted in at least 100 fatalities.
Rodriguez, who was sworn in as acting president two days later on January 5, framed her appeal for unity against this backdrop of external intervention.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez denounced the U.S. actions as a "war crime of the 21st century" when speaking at an international cultural event on Sunday.
Nanez condemned not only the January 3 airstrikes but also the associated cyber and electromagnetic attacks.
He accused the United States of violating international law through the forced removal of President Maduro and his wife, while attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, represent a flagrant breach of humanitarian norms.
He reiterated that the stigmatization and military attacks against Venezuela are driven by economic interests, particularly the desire to control its abundant natural resources.
Venezuelan acting president calls for national unity amid complex situation
