United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a “just peace” in Ukraine during a meeting with BRICS leaders hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This meeting is taking place on the final day of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, a forum that Russia hopes will unite emerging economies against Western influence.
“We need peace in Ukraine,” Mr. Guterres stated during a roundtable discussion with BRICS leaders.
“A just peace in accordance with the UN Charter, international law, and General Assembly resolutions,” he continued.
“It requires a community of nations—working together as one global family—to tackle global challenges,” the UN chief emphasized in his opening remarks.
Following Mr. Guterres’s address, President Putin responded dryly.
“The General Secretary said we should live like one big family,” the Russian leader remarked.
“However, in families, there are often disputes, scandals, property divisions, and sometimes even conflicts,” he added.
Mr. Putin’s last meeting with the UN chief occurred in April 2022.
The Russian leader stated that the “goal of BRICS is to establish necessary interaction mechanisms and foster a favorable environment in our common home.”
Ukraine has strongly condemned the UN chief’s decision to meet with Mr. Putin, who has insisted that Ukraine must surrender territory in its southern and eastern regions as a precondition for a ceasefire.
Ukraine described this stance as “absurd.”
The UN chief is scheduled to conduct bilateral talks with Mr. Putin later today, where he will reaffirm his stance on Ukraine, according to his spokesman.
The two leaders last met in April 2022 during the early days of the offensive when Mr. Guterres visited Moscow amid Russia’s siege of Mariupol in southern Ukraine.
Since then, Mr. Guterres has engaged in peace initiatives between the two sides, playing a role in negotiating a deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain safely from its ports in 2022.
There has been little direct diplomatic engagement between the two countries since then.
Discussions at the summit are occurring as Russian forces advance in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, getting closer to the crucial supply hub of Pokrovsk.
The United States has issued warnings that thousands of North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Russia, which the West and Ukraine fear could lead to significant troop deployments to bolster Russian forces.
‘No place in the modern world’
United Nations spokesperson Farhan Haq remarked that Mr. Guterres would use the meeting to “reaffirm his well-known positions on the war in Ukraine.”
Mr. Haq indicated that the UN chief stands ready to offer mediation but is waiting for the “right conditions.”
“He is obviously prepared to offer his services when both parties are willing, and he will continue to observe the situation to determine the appropriate timing.”
Ukraine has criticized Mr. Guterres’s visit to Russia, with Kyiv’s foreign ministry denouncing him for planning to meet what they termed the “criminal Putin.”
Mr. Guterres criticized Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territory, asserting that it has “no place in the modern world.”
He has visited regions where the Russian army has been accused of committing atrocities in Ukraine and has repeatedly called for a “just peace.”
North Korea
The meeting follows a day after the United States reported its belief that “thousands” of North Korean soldiers are undergoing training in Russia.
“We do not yet know what their mission will be or if they will be deployed to fight in Ukraine,” a senior U.S. official stated.
President Putin, who signed a mutual defense agreement with North Korea during a visit to the isolated nation in June, has yet to address these reports.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed that the conflict should be resolved “peacefully” (File image)
Yesterday, Russia suggested to “ask Pyongyang” about troop movements, opting not to confirm or deny the allegations.
Several world leaders at the BRICS summit have advocated for an end to the Ukraine conflict.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has also endeavored to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, stated earlier this week his desire for a “peaceful” resolution to the conflict.
“We entirely support efforts to swiftly restore peace and stability,” he asserted.
India has navigated a delicate position since Russia initiated its offensive, offering humanitarian assistance to Kyiv while refraining from explicitly condemning Moscow’s actions.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has also called for an end to the conflict.
Last night, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Kazan “as a state invited to join the (BRICS) group,” his ministry announced on the social media platform X.
Established in 2009 with four members—Brazil, Russia, India, and China—BRICS has since grown to include other emerging nations such as South Africa, Egypt, and Iran.
