UN response to articles about the terminology used to describe the situation in Ukraine

It is simply not the case that staff have been instructed not to use words like “war” and “invasion” to describe the situation. In fact, on Monday, the head of political affairs, Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo, tweeted the following: “Nearly two weeks on, it is painfully clear that those suffering the most after Russia's invasion of #Ukraine are civilians - killed, wounded, displaced. This war is senseless. We are ready to support all good-faith efforts at negotiation to end the bloodshed.” (https://twitter.com/DicarloRosemary/status/1500982285142827008?s=20&t=pPJBbU-_GJ4-8fndLl05uQ)

Similarly, the Secretary-General has used a wide range of words in his statements and remarks to the press to describe what is going on.