UN chief demands ‘peace’ in Ukraine at Russia-hosted BRICS summit At a BRICS conference hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Antonio Guterres calls for respect for international law and territorial integrity in order to achieve a just settlement in Ukraine.
UN chief demands ‘peace’ in Ukraine at Russia-hosted BRICS summit In a speech before Russian President Vladimir Putin, United Nations President Antonio Guterres called for a “just peace” in Ukraine, urging an end to the conflict that has lasted for more than two years.
At a Putin-hosted BRICS conference in Kazan, Russia, on Thursday, Guterres also called for the release of hostages, a “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, and a “immediate cessation of hostilities” in Lebanon.
“Peace in Ukraine is necessary. Guterres addressed the meeting, “A just peace in accordance with the UN Charter, international law, and (UN) General Assembly resolution.”
In Russia for the first time since April 2022, the UN secretary general was scheduled to meet with Putin later Thursday to discuss Ukraine.
The conflict, which is now in its third year, has continued despite Guterres’ criticism of Moscow’s aggression and unlawful acquisition of Ukrainian territory.
Respecting “the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of all states” is crucial, he said.
Putin, meanwhile, warned of “illusionary” Western aspirations, stating that Russia could not be beaten on the battlefield in Ukraine.
According to him, Moscow’s adversaries “do not conceal their aim to deal our country a strategic defeat”
“I will say directly that these are illusionary calculations, that can be made only by those who do not know Russia’s history.”