Ukraine snubs UN chief after controversial Putin meeting

According to the Ukrainian administration, Guterres's visit to Kazan was "an affront to common sense and international law."

The spokesman for Guterres emphasized that during the meeting with Putin, the UN Secretary-General reiterated that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is a violation of international law. Nonetheless, according to a Ukrainian official cited by AFP, the mere fact of Guterres's visit to Kazan undermined the credibility of the UN.

The Ukrainian coalition of non-governmental organizations also criticized Guterres. In a statement given to the media, the activists emphasized that Putin is wanted with an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court. According to them, the UN leader's meeting with the Russian president undermines the credibility of the ICC's decision and investigations into the most severe crimes.

Lithuanian politicians also offered Guterres harsh criticism. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Gabrielius Landsbergis, stated that the UN chief must admit his mistake and take responsibility for his decisions, both regarding his absence from the peace summit in Switzerland and the visit to Putin.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that Guterres rejected Ukraine’s invitation to the first Global Peace Summit in Switzerland. Instead, he accepted President Putin's invitation to Kazan, which, according to the Ministry, harms the UN’s reputation.

The unexpected presence of the UN Secretary-General at the BRICS summit sparked controversy from the start. The situation was further inflamed by photos and videos from the summit published by the Kremlin and Belarusian news agencies. They show Guterres warmly greeting Vladimir Putin and exchanging warm embraces with Alexander Lukashenko.