UNITED NATIONS: The United Nation Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peace building Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, has said that the Russia-Ukraine conflict shows no signals of ending, despite an "encouraging" grain deal.

The UN Political Affairs Chief briefed the ambassadors, noting that despite the bleak outlook for peace, the recent agreement on the safe resumption of grain exports through the Black Sea was a bright spot in the conflict.

"The grain agreement is a hint that discussion between the parties is feasible in the quest to lessen human suffering",  DiCarlo said,  adding that the  DiCarlo, fatal attacks by Russian forces have persisted unabatedly since her last briefing in late June, leaving several Ukrainian cities and towns in ruins.

The number of civilians who have been killed, injured, or disabled has also risen. According to the UN human rights agency, OHCHR, there were 12,272 civilian casualties as of Wednesday, including 5,237 fatalities.

Since my last briefing, there have been at least 1,641 additional civilian casualties, including 506 deaths and 1,135 injuries. The actual numbers are much higher, she claimed; these estimates are based on documented cases. The UN is doing all possible to support the execution of the agreement, which was reached last week in Turkey, as per Xinhua reports.

Global effects of the crisis are already "glaringly evident,"  DiCarlo said adding that  they will only worsen as winter approaches and fighting continues.

She informed the UN Security Council, "Despite the good developments on grain and fertilisers, we remain gravely concerned about the lack of possibilities for a change towards a genuine restart of diplomatic efforts to end the war."

"Escalatory rhetoric from any side, especially about expanding the conflict geographically or disputing the status of Ukraine as a sovereign state, is not consistent with the constructive spirit displayed in Istanbul," she said.

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