A United Nations special envoy cut his trip to Ukraine short Wednesday after being trapped in a cafe by militants, British television station ITV reports.
United Nations representative Robert Serry was briefly held in a coffee shop while protesters chanted “Putin” outside. An ITV reporter, James Mates, was with the Dutch diplomat in the coffee shop and live-tweeted the incident:
United Nations Deputy Secretary Jan Eliasson condemned the actions, noting that although Serry was not kidnapped—as early reports suggested—he was “seriously threatened.” Serry was able to leave the area and reach the airport safely. He is returning to Kiev on Wednesday.
[ITV]
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Introducing the TIME100 Climate List
- Accenture’s Chief AI Officer on Why This Is a Defining Moment
- U.S. Doctors Can't Be Silent About Gaza: Column
- Inside COP28's Big 'Experiment'
- The Movie Wives Would Like a Word
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2023
- The Top 100 Photos of 2023
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time