Zelensky Suspends UN Secretary-General's Visit to Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the visit of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Kyiv due to his participation in the BRICS summit in Kazan, a senior source in the Ukrainian president's office told AFP.

During his speech directed to Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kazan, Guterres called for establishing a "just peace" in Ukraine to end the war; however, his participation in the BRICS summit has sparked outrage in Kyiv.

“After Kazan, Guterres wanted to come to Ukraine, but the president did not approve his visit. Therefore, Guterres will not be here, particularly because of the undermining of reason and international law in Kazan,” the source told AFP.

During talks with Putin in Kazan, Guterres reiterated that “Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a violation of the UN Charter and international law,” according to the organization's statement. Earlier, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry had criticized Guterres's decision to visit the capital of Tatarstan and noted that he did not attend the Switzerland peace summit.

“This is a wrong choice that does not contribute to peace, but only damages the reputation of the UN,” the ministry stated.