United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called for a “just peace” in Ukraine during his remarks at the BRICS summit, addressing Russian President Vladimir Putin. Guterres, on his first visit to Russia since April 2022, emphasized the need to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has lasted for more than two years. He highlighted that any peace agreement must adhere to the principles of the UN Charter, international law, and the General Assembly’s resolutions, which underscore the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of all nations.
The UN chief’s address came on the final day of the BRICS summit, a forum Russia has used to rally support from emerging economies amid its strained relations with the West. Guterres’ call for peace underscored the urgency of resolving the conflict through diplomatic means.
Earlier that day, President Putin addressed the summit, asserting that Russia cannot be defeated in Ukraine. He dismissed Western ambitions for a “strategic defeat” of Russia, labeling such goals as “illusionary.” Putin pointed to Russia’s history, implying that the country has weathered many such challenges.
Later on Thursday, Guterres and Putin were scheduled to hold direct talks, marking their first meeting since April 2022, during Russia’s siege of Mariupol. The meeting takes place amid rising U.S. concerns about the possible deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers to Russia, with speculation that they might be sent to bolster Russian forces in Ukraine.
