Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky refused to meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The reason was Guterres' participation in a BRICS summit in Russia.
At the meeting, Guterres pleaded for a "just peace" in Ukraine. In his speech to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the secretary-general called for an end to more than two years of fighting.
Guterres's participation in the BRICS summit drew the ire of Kiev.
"After Kazan (Guterres) wanted to come to Ukraine, but the president did not confirm his visit. So Guterres will not be here precisely because of the humiliation of common sense and international law in Kazan," the presidential administration said.
"During his talks with Putin in Kazan, Guterres reiterated that the Russian invasion of Ukraine violated the UN Charter and international law," the UN said in a statement.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry criticised Guterres' decision to visit Kazan and pointed out that he had not attended the peace summit Ukraine hosted in Switzerland in June.
"This is a wrong choice that does not contribute to the development of the cause of peace. It only damages the reputation of the UN," the diplomatic office said. | BGNES
