Kyiv, Ukraine

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is facing the ire of the Ukrainian president following his decision to attend the BRICS Summit in Russia’s Kazan. Volodymyr Zelensky has now responded by rejecting a proposed visit by the UN chief to Kyiv, news agency AFP reported citing presidential sources.

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BRICS Summit turned out to be a massive PR boost for Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who used the opportunity to refute ‘Russia-is-isolated’ claims often furthered by Western leaders and media.

More than 20 global leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attended the summit, the largest diplomatic event Russia hosted following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Also read: ‘Over 30 countries expressed desire to join BRICS,’ says Russian President Putin

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“After Kazan, (Guterres) wanted to come to Ukraine, but the president did not confirm his visit. So Guterres won’t be here, specifically because of the humiliation of sanity and international law in Kazan,” the presidential source said.

Talks between UN chief and Putin

According to a statement released by the UN, Guterres reminded Putin that the “Russian invasion of Ukraine was in violation of the United Nations Charter and international law.”

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Guterres also highlighted the importance of "establishing freedom of navigation in the Black Sea," saying the move was vital for both Ukraine and Russia, as well as global "food and energy security."

"He fully supports the continuation of negotiations in this regard," the statement said, citing "deep appreciation" to Turkey's mediating efforts.

Also read: ‘We support diplomacy, not war,’ PM Modi tells world leaders at BRICS Summit

Ahead of the Putin-Guterres meeting, Kyiv had condemned the visit, saying it “damages the UN’s reputation and does not promote peace.” Western nations also criticised the UN chief for visiting Russia’s Kazan, especially because Guterres participated only virtually at the Lebanon conference in Paris and was absent from the Ukraine peace summit held in Switzerland in June.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the UN chief argued Guterres considered BRICS an important international forum.

(With inputs from agencies)