Antonio Guterres met Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, on 24 October 2024. During the meeting, the UN Secretary-General reaffirmed that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a ‘violation’ of international law

According to a statement from his spokesman, Guterres reiterated his commitment to a ‘just peace’ in accordance with the UN Charter and international law.

Antonio Guterres also reminded the Russian President of the crucial importance of maintaining freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, which is essential for Ukraine as well as for global food and energy security. The Secretary General expressed his support for the ongoing negotiations on this issue, praising in particular Turkey’s efforts.

In addition to the situation in Ukraine, the two leaders also discussed the crises in the Middle East. Guterres emphasised the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, while stressing the importance of preventing regional escalation. The meeting marked their first meeting since April 2022.

The BRICS summit is being held in Kazan, bringing together some twenty world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority. One of the main aims of this meeting is to challenge Western domination of the international scene. It’s good to know that he was referring, without naming it, to the imperialism of certain countries.