Oct 25, V7N- During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reaffirmed that Russia's invasion of Ukraine violated both the United Nations Charter and international law. In the meeting, which drew criticism from Kyiv, Guterres highlighted the necessity of a "just peace" in Ukraine and stressed the importance of reopening Black Sea navigation routes, essential for both Ukrainian and Russian exports as well as global food and energy security.

The Black Sea has been a critical trade artery, especially for Ukraine's grain exports, but the conflict has severely impacted its use since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Although a UN-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative initially allowed Ukrainian agricultural exports, Russia withdrew from the agreement in 2023. Despite this, Ukraine has managed to establish a new maritime corridor for trade. Guterres expressed support for continued negotiations and praised Turkey's mediating role in these efforts.

The leaders also discussed escalating conflicts in the Middle East, emphasizing the urgent need for ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon and the importance of preventing further regional tensions. This marked their first meeting since April 2022.

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