BBC reported that Volodymyr Zelensky had rejected a visit by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Ukraine because of his trip to Russia.
BBC reports that Guterres wanted to visit Kyiv after attending a Brics Summit in the Russian city Kazan this past week.
The source told BBC that “the president did not confirm” his visit. “After Kazan, after he met the instigator of war and spent UN Day at the territory of the aggressor nation, it would seem strange to host him.”
Ukraine was shocked by Guterres’ visit to Russia, who has launched a full scale invasion of Ukraine in the year 2022.
During his visit to Ukraine, Guterres called on a “just” peace in Ukraine and reiterated that the Russian invasion of the country violated the United Nations Charter as well as international law.
In a press release issued ahead of Guterres’ visit to Kazan the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said: “This choice is wrong and does not advance peace.” It only damages UN’s reputation.”
“The UN Secretary general declined Ukraine’s invite to the first Global Peace Summit held in Switzerland.” “He did accept the invitation from war criminal Putin to Kazan,” the statement added.
The summit in June, held at the initiative of Ukraine, was attended by over 90 nations. The summit condemned Russia’s invasion in Ukraine and offered a peace proposal to end the conflict.
Moscow, who was not invited to the event, dismissed it as meaningless.
In 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes committed in Ukraine.
Russia does not recognize the ICC which works closely with the UN.
Guterres said during the Brics Summit in Kazan: “We need peace for Ukraine.” A just peace that is in accordance with the UN Charter and international law, as well as General Assembly resolutions.”
The office of Guterres justified his participation at the summit by referring to Brics “in boosting global cooperation”.
Brics, a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, was formed in 2006 and later joined by Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia, as well as the United Arab Emirates.
Analysts say that some Brics heavyweights like Russia and China have been trying to challenge the G7, the world’s largest seven economies.
The G7 currently consists of Canada, France Germany Italy Japan UK and the US.
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