United Nations Secretary-General visits Russia to meet President Putin

In a statement issued on April 22, United Nations Spokesperson Eri Kaneko said Guterres would visit Russia on April 26.

Kaneko said that Guterres hoped that this visit to Moscow would play a role in bringing about a practical solution to the conflict in Ukraine.

The UN spokesman added that the Secretary-General’s office is also working with the Ukrainian government to schedule and prepare for the visit to the country.

On the same day, the Kremlin spokesman announced that President Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will hold talks with the United Nations Secretary-General in Moscow early next week.

“On April 26, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will travel to Moscow to hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. President Vladimir Putin will also receive him.” Mr. Peskov informed.

Earlier, Mr. Guterres sent a letter to the Russian and Ukrainian delegations to the United Nations asking to meet the presidents of these two countries in the hope of being able to mediate to promote dialogue towards an end to the current conflict.

According to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, Mr Guterres wanted to discuss urgent steps to bring about peace in Ukraine and the future of multilateralism based on the UN Charter and international law. .

On April 19, the United Nations Secretary-General condemned a new wave of Russian attacks in eastern Ukraine, and called for a four-day ceasefire to mark Orthodox Holy Week.

“Instead of celebration, Easter is taking place during Russia’s offensive in eastern Ukraine.”Mr. Guterres told reporters.

Guterres warned that the concentration of forces and firepower between Russia and Ukraine in this battle will make the battle more violent and bloody.

On April 19, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Moscow was starting a new phase of its special military operation in Ukraine.

“Another phase of this operation (in eastern Ukraine) is beginning and I’m sure this will be a very important moment in this whole particular operation,” he said. Lavrov said in an interview with India Today TV channel.

According to the Russian foreign minister, Russia’s goal in the second phase of the military operation in Ukraine is to liberate Donetsk and Lugansk, two breakaway territories in Donbass, Eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Russian forces had begun a military operation in the Donbass region, and announced that Kiev would defend itself.