UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed a number of issues, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, and the situation in the Middle East during the meeting held within the framework of the BRICS summit in Kazan.
This was announced by the press service of the UN Secretary General. "The Secretary General reiterated his position that Russia's invasion of Ukraine violates the UN Charter and international law," the message reads. The UN Secretary General also spoke in favor of ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea during the meeting. the secretary expressed his conviction that ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea is of primary importance for Ukraine, the Russian Federation, as well as global food and energy security.
He fully supports the continuation of negotiations on this issue," Guterres' office said. Guterres and Putin also discussed the situation in the Middle East, specifically noting "the absolute need for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, as well as the need to avoid further escalation of tensions in the region."
The international financial system was also one of the topics discussed by the parties. The summit of the BRICS countries was held on October 22-24 in the city of Kazan, Russia.
