“ Russian invasion of Ukraine » is a violation of international law, insisted the UN Secretary General during a meeting Thursday, October 24 with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a press release from the office of the Secretary General’s spokesperson released in New York.
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António Guterres, who met with the Russian president on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, “repeated his position that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was in violation of the UN Charter and international law” , according to a press release from the office of the secretary-general’s spokesperson released in New York, also repeating its support for a “just peace” in accordance with the charter and international law.
The UN chief also stressed to the Russian president his attachment to “ freedom of navigation in the Black Sea », capital for Ukraine and global food and energy security. “ He fully supports the continuation of negotiations in this regard », added the press release, welcoming in particular Turkey’s efforts on this issue.
The Black Sea is a crucial trade route for Ukraine, one of the world’s largest grain producers and exporters, but it has become a battleground since the Russian invasion began in February 2022. After the withdrawal of Russia in July 2023 of the grain agreement negotiated under the aegis of Turkey and the UN in the summer of 2022, Ukraine set up a corridor in the Black Sea to export its agricultural products, especially cereals, despite threats from Moscow to fire on boats sailing in the area.
António Guterres and Vladimir Putin, who had not met since April 2022, also discussed the situation in the Middle East, in particular “ the absolute necessity of a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the need to avoid further regional escalation “, the press release clarified.
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