Zelenskyy Declines UN Chief Guterres' Visit to Ukraine After Russia Summit

KYIV, Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has turned down a proposed visit by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres following Guterres' participation in a summit held in Russia, as reported by a senior source in the Ukrainian presidency.

At the BRICS summit in Kazan, Guterres made an appeal for a "just peace" in Ukraine during a speech in front of Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging an end to the ongoing conflict that has persisted for over two years. However, his involvement in this high-profile event, which included leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, drew backlash from Kyiv.

The source stated, "After Kazan, Guterres wanted to come to Ukraine, but the president did not confirm his visit. So Guterres won't be here, specifically because of the humiliation of sanity and international law in Kazan."

In his discussions with Putin, Guterres reaffirmed that the "Russian invasion of Ukraine was in violation of the United Nations Charter and international law," according to a statement from the UN. Prior to these talks, the Ukrainian foreign ministry criticized Guterres' choice to attend the Kazan summit, noting that he had also skipped a peace summit organized by Ukraine in Switzerland back in June.

"This is a wrong choice that does not advance the cause of peace. It only damages the UN's reputation," the foreign ministry's statement declared.

Before the bilateral discussions between UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Ukrainian foreign ministry expressed strong disapproval of Guterres' choice to attend the BRICS summit in Kazan. They emphasized that this decision was particularly concerning given that Guterres had previously opted not to participate in a peace summit organized by Ukraine in Switzerland in June.

The Ukrainian officials conveyed their disappointment, asserting that attending the summit in Russia undermined the efforts for peace. "This is a wrong choice that does not advance the cause of peace," the foreign ministry's statement declared. "It only damages the UN's reputation."

This sentiment reflects broader concerns in Kyiv regarding the UN's role in the ongoing conflict and the perception that the organization's leadership may be prioritizing diplomatic engagements in Russia over supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Ukrainian government has consistently sought international backing against the Russian invasion and views Guterres' actions as counterproductive to those efforts.

By highlighting the inconsistency of Guterres' attendance at the Kazan summit while skipping Ukraine's peace initiative, the Ukrainian foreign ministry aims to reinforce the message that true commitment to peace requires principled choices that prioritize justice and international law.

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