UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres informed Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine breaches the United Nations Charter and international law, according to a readout of their meeting.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, following Guterres’ call for a “just peace” in Ukraine during his speech.
The UN chief “reiterated his position that the Russian invasion of Ukraine violated the UN Charter and international law,” the readout stated. The meeting has drawn criticism from Kyiv.
Guterres also emphasized his commitment to securing “freedom of navigation in the Black Sea,” highlighting its importance for both Ukraine and Russia, as well as for global food and energy security. He expressed support for continued negotiations and praised Turkey’s mediation efforts.
The Black Sea serves as a vital trade route for Ukraine, one of the world’s leading grain exporters. However, Russia’s invasion in February 2022 severely disrupted these exports. A UN-brokered agreement had temporarily allowed Ukraine to resume agricultural shipments via the Black Sea, but Russia pulled out of the deal in 2023. Despite the setback, Ukraine established an alternative maritime corridor to maintain trade flows.
During their meeting, Guterres and Putin also discussed the conflict in the Middle East. They focused on the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon and stressed the importance of preventing further regional escalation, according to the readout. This was their first meeting since April 2022.