Ahead of the United Nations General Assembly’s high-level week, Secretary-General António Guterres said the world had entered “an era of deep uncertainty” and urged governments to embrace international cooperation to address global threats.

Speaking to reporters six days before world leaders gather in New York, Guterres identified “three existential threats”: runaway artificial intelligence (AI), the climate crisis and deepening inequalities.

He also reiterated calls for a two-State solution in the Middle East and for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

While he acknowledged the need to reform global institutions, including the UN itself, the Secretary-General stressed that the UN’s promises to maintain peace and protect human rights remain the same.

“Updating our structures can never mean abandoning our principles – it must mean applying those principles with even greater determination,” Guterres said.

Now more than ever, Guterres called for Member States to uphold the UN Charter, defend international law, protect human rights, invest in sustainable development and push for peace everywhere.

He highlighted the decimation of Gaza and the Russia-Ukraine war as areas of particular concern, urging leaders to work towards “de-escalation, diplomacy and dialogue” to end these conflicts.

“At this crucial moment in the Middle East, de-escalation must be priority one, priority two and priority three,” the Secretary-General said.

All parties to the conflict in the Middle East must respect navigational rights in the Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab Straits and must not harm civilians, Guterres said.

He also called attention to the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza and said Israel’s annexation of the West Bank “must stop.”

More than four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Guterres said there is “no end in sight,” calling for an immediate ceasefire as the first step towards a “just, lasting and comprehensive peace.”

The General Assembly is expected to debate both conflicts next week.