U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that he is deeply worried about the heightened tensions over Ukraine and “increased speculation” about a military conflict, urging world leaders to intensify diplomacy to calm the situation, writes Reuters.

In a press encounter, Guterres said he was deeply worried about the current tensions and increased speculation about a potential military conflict.

“The price in human suffering, destruction and damage to European and global security is too high to contemplate. We simply cannot accept even the possibility of such a disastrous confrontation.

There is no alternative to diplomacy. All issues, including the most intractable, can and must be addressed and resolved through diplomatic frameworks. It is my firm belief that this principle will prevail”, - he said.

Guterres said he will remain fully engaged in the hours and days to come. He welcomed the recent flurry of diplomatic contacts and engagements, including between heads of state, but said more needs to be done.