UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres informed Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday that his invasion of neighbouring Ukraine breached the United Nations Charter and international law, according to a readout of their meeting.

The UN secretary-general met with Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, following a speech in which Guterres called for a “just peace” in Ukraine.

He “reiterated his position that the Russian invasion of Ukraine violated the United Nations Charter and international law,” stated a readout from the UN chief’s spokesperson after their meeting, which had faced criticism from Kyiv.

Guterres also stressed his commitment to “establishing freedom of navigation in the Black Sea,” describing this as essential for both Ukraine and Russia, as well as for global “food and energy security.”

“He fully supports the continuation of negotiations in this regard,” the statement noted, expressing “deep appreciation” for Turkey’s mediation efforts.

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The Black Sea is a critical trade route for Ukraine, one of the world’s largest grain exporters, yet it has faced severe disruptions since the Russian invasion began in February 2022.

A UN-brokered deal previously enabled Ukraine to continue agricultural exports via the Black Sea, but Moscow withdrew from the agreement in 2023. Despite this, Kyiv has managed to create a maritime corridor allowing trade to continue.

Guterres and Putin, who last met in April 2022, also discussed the conflict in the Middle East, “particularly the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the importance of avoiding further regional escalation,” according to the readout.

AFP