KYIV, Ukraine (AP) 鈥� There are many obstacles to a peace deal in , but a diplomatic solution remains the only viable option, the newly appointed head of the U.N. refugee agency said Friday, warning that humanitarian operations are increasingly overstretched because of multiple global crises.
who was elected UNHCR high commissioner in December, made his first visit to Ukraine since taking office.
After traveling to Ukraine鈥檚 front-line cities, including and Zaporizhzhia, he met with President and discussed the latest in efforts to secure a peace deal. He also discussed the future of UNHCR operations as Ukraine endures Russian attacks on its energy grid during a harsh winter.
鈥淵ou have to be hopeful, but I do understand the difficulties in the situation, and it鈥檚 clear, of course, there are many, many impediments along the way, but at the end of the day, there is no military solution. There needs to be peace, a durable and just peace so that people can go back to their lives,鈥� he said, speaking to The Associated Press in an interview in Kyiv.
鈥淭hings are not necessarily easy, definitely not easy, but let鈥檚 redouble the effort to make sure that diplomacy has a chance and really bring about a durable and just peace to this war that has been going on for far too long,鈥� he added.
Of the agency鈥檚 $470 million appeal for Ukraine, only $150 million has been pledged. The shortfall reflects deep cuts across the humanitarian sector, making it increasingly difficult to deliver aid across multiple crises.
There are 3.7 million Ukrainians displaced within the country and nearly 6 million Ukrainians outside the country who have become refugees in Europe and elsewhere, he said.
鈥淭his tells you the gap between what is needed and what is available,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y appeal to the international community is, really, this is not the moment to walk away, this is not a moment to look the other way round. These vulnerable populations need support. We should deliver this help to them.鈥�
The U.N. agency in Ukraine predicts 10.8 million Ukrainians will require humanitarian assistance in 2026, according to a report from the agency. The most critical needs are concentrated along the war鈥檚 front lines in the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine, as well as in the northern border region. Intensified hostilities produce fresh waves of displacement.
The agency鈥檚 Ukraine appeal competes with large-scale conflicts in Sudan and Gaza. Since his appointment, Salih has spent only one week in his Geneva office, traveling to Kenya, Chad, Turkey and Jordan before visiting Ukraine.
Drastic cuts to U.S. humanitarian funding under President Donald Trump has accelerated the erosion of global humanitarian infrastructure and severely undermined the ability of organizations to deliver aid.
There are 117 million displaced people worldwide, including at least 42 million refugees, Salih said. Two-thirds face protracted displacement and remain dependent on humanitarian assistance.
Deciding where to prioritize given shrinking resources is 鈥渄ifficult鈥� he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really very difficult to prioritize given the scale of the problem. I was in Kenya and I was in Chad recently and I was in Turkey and in Jordan talking to refugees from Syria. And of course, now in Ukraine, these are all pressing issues, pressing requirements,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e need to be there to help people, but also I have to say we really need to look at durable solutions too as well. It鈥檚 not a matter of sustaining dependency or humanitarian assistance,鈥� he added.
In his meeting with Zelenskyy, Salih said they discussed the need to focus on the 鈥渞ecovery phase and sustainable solutions and self reliance as we go forward,鈥� he said.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
