For the first time since April 2022, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres is set to visit Russia, where he is expected to meet with President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, according to the Kremlin. The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, a forum Russia hopes to leverage in demonstrating its resilience against Western isolation attempts following its offensive in Ukraine.

The Kremlin stated that Guterres and Putin will discuss various international issues, including the Middle East crisis and the ongoing war in Ukraine, alongside UN-related topics. However, the UN has not yet confirmed the meeting, with Guterres’ deputy spokesperson, Farhan Haq, stating that details on the Secretary General’s future travels will be announced later.

Ukraine Criticizes Guterres’ Decision to Meet Putin

Ukraine has expressed strong disapproval of Guterres’ decision to meet with Putin, accusing the UN Secretary General of undermining efforts for peace. Ukraine’s foreign ministry condemned the planned meeting, stating that it “damages the UN’s reputation” and does not contribute to advancing peace. The ministry noted that Guterres had declined an invitation to attend Ukraine’s Global Peace Summit in Switzerland but accepted Putin’s invitation to Kazan.

Guterres has consistently criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, warning that it sets a “dangerous precedent” and has called for a “just peace” that respects international law and Ukraine’s territorial integrity. In his 2022 visit to Russia, Guterres discussed humanitarian aid and civilian evacuations with Putin, but no signs have emerged of either Ukraine or Russia being open to broader peace talks.

Putin has demanded that Ukraine cede territory in the south and east as a condition for a ceasefire, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains adamant against giving up any land, ruling out direct negotiations with Putin. Last month, Zelenskyy told the UN Security Council that Moscow “can only be forced into peace.”