In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin looks on during a meeting with Iran’s conservative Parliament Speaker on the sidelines of a BRICS (the bloc that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) parliamentary forum in Saint Petersburg on July 11, 2024. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse
KAZAN — Russia’s President Vladimir Putin will meet UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday to discuss the Ukraine conflict, in the UN chief’s first trip to Russia in more than two years, the Kremlin said.
The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in the central Russian city of Kazan, a forum Moscow hopes to use to show the West that attempts to isolate Russia over the Ukraine offensive have failed.
Article continues after this advertisement“It is expected that along with the activities of the UN, they will touch upon topical issues on the international agenda, including the Middle East crisis and the situation around Ukraine,” the Kremlin said.
FEATURED STORIES GLOBALNATION She thought her baby’s sweet scent was a blessing; it’s a deadly illness GLOBALNATION US missile deployment to PH important for combat readiness – US general GLOBALNATION House to SolGen: File raps to seize land from ChineseREAD: Yulia Navalnaya says she wants Putin to go from ‘tsar’ to ‘prisoner’
The UN did not confirm the planned meeting, and Ukraine strongly criticized Guterres decision to meet Putin.
Article continues after this advertisementAsked at a briefing in New York whether Guterres was intending to travel to Kazan later this week, his deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters: “Announcements on his future travels will be later on down the line.”
Article continues after this advertisementGuterres has repeatedly criticized Moscow’s military offensive on Ukraine and said it sets a “dangerous precedent” for the world, but Ukraine’s foreign ministry said meeting Putin now “does not advance the cause of peace” and “damages the UN’s reputation”.
Article continues after this advertisement“The UN Secretary General declined Ukraine’s invitation to the first Global Peace Summit in Switzerland. He did, however, accept the invitation to Kazan from war criminal Putin,” the ministry said in a posting on X.
READ: UN chief sends Russia bid to revive Black Sea grain deal
Article continues after this advertisementGuterres has called for a “just peace” that respects international law and Ukraine’s “territorial integrity.”
During his last visit in April 2022, two months after Russia launched its offensive, Guterres had discussed with Putin proposals for humanitarian assistance and the evacuation of civilians from conflict zones, according to a UN readout of the meeting.
There are no signs that either Kyiv or Moscow is yet open to wider talks on a settlement to end the two-and-a-half-year conflict.
Putin has demanded Ukraine effectively capitulate by abandoning more territory in its south and east as a precondition to a ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has refused to countenance ceding land to secure a peace deal and ruled out direct talks with Putin.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Speaking at the United Nations last monthubet95, Zelensky told the Security Council — of which Russia is a permanent member — that Moscow “can only be forced into peace.”
READ NEXT N. Korea sending troops to Ukraine would be ‘dangerous&#... Hezbollah finance chief killed in Syria – Israeli army EDITORS' PICK LIVE UPDATES: Tropical Storm Kristine INQside Look with senatorial aspirant Tito Sotto Alex Eala bounces back at WTA 250 Guangzhou Open ASF vaccination expands to bigger piggeries Bianca Bustamante joins NEOM McLaren for Valencia Women’s Test PBA Finals a duel between 2 great minds steering 2 great sides MOST READ DILG identifies 38 hotspots ahead of 2025 polls LIVE UPDATES: Tropical Storm Kristine VP Sara Duterte says she still sees Sen. Marcos as a 'friend' AFP reprimands cadet who asked for Marcos wrist watch View comments