UN chief meets Putin in Russia, tells Brics audience ‘we need just peace’ in Ukraine

“We need peace in Ukraine,” said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Russian President Vladimir Putin and other attendees of the 16th Brics Summit held at the Russian city of Kazan.  

Guterres, who visited Russia for the first time in over two years, asked Putin to agree to a peace deal “in line with the UN Charter, international law and UN General Assembly resolutions."

Guterres and Putin last met in April 2022.

UN demands for ‘a just peace’ in Russia-Ukraine conflict

“We need peace in Ukraine. A just peace in line with the UN Charter, international law and UN General Assembly resolutions,” the UN Secretary-General said."  

“Across the board, we need peace. We need peace in Ukraine,” Guterres told summit attendees.  

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also emphasised that his country “supports dialogue and diplomacy, not war."

Guterres also called for peace in the conflict in Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan.

As per a statement released by Guterres’ office, the UN chief met Putin on the sidelines of the Brics Summit and restated his call for peace in line with his address.

The statement said Guterres reiterated his position that Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine was “in violation of the United Nations Charter and international law”.

As per the statement, the UN chief also said freedom of navigation in the Black Sea was “of paramount importance” for Russia, Ukraine and overall food and energy security.

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The Black Sea is an important trade route for Ukraine, one of the largest exporters of grain in the world, but it has been mired since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.

A UN-brokered agreement allowed Ukraine to export agricultural exports on the Black Sea, but Russia withdrew from the deal in 2023.

Ukraine has nonetheless carved out a maritime corridor allowing trade to continue.

With inputs from agencies.