The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has admitted that peace negotiations to end the Russian war against Ukraine are impossible in the short term, in an interview published today by the Spanish newspaper El Pais.

"Unfortunately, I think that a peace negotiation is not possible at the moment," said Guterres, quoted by the French news agency AFP.

António Guterres said that he also sees "no possibility of [achieving] a comprehensive ceasefire immediately (...)".

"It is clear that both sides are fully committed to the war" and are "convinced that they can win", he explained.

Guterres said he hoped it would be possible to bring the two sides to the negotiating table in the future.

António Guterres, 74, head of the UN since 2017, will receive the Carlos V European Prize in Spain today, awarded by the Foundation of the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste at a ceremony presided over by King Felipe VI.