Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized U.N. Secretary General António Guterres for meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on United Nations Day, highlighting the importance of upholding international law and the U.N. Charter. Zelenskyy emphasized that despite some officials choosing other interests over these principles, the world is structured in a way that prioritizes the rights of nations and international law. The decision for Guterres to meet with Putin came amid the BRICS summit in Kazan, an alliance of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa aimed at countering Western influence. This meeting has raised concerns, especially as some of these nations are involved in international conflicts that violate the U.N. Charter, including Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The U.N. has faced backlash over the meeting between Guterres and Putin, with critics arguing that it undermines the U.N. and its fundamental principles. The Crimean Human Rights Group based in Kyiv stated that the meeting with Putin, who is wanted by the ICC for alleged war crimes, goes against U.N. guidelines that recommend avoiding meetings with individuals subject to warrants of arrest. The group called on the ICC to demand that Guterres hand over any information obtained from the meeting with Putin, in accordance with the Relationship Agreement between the U.N. and the ICC. While Guterres reiterated his position that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine violated international law, his meeting with Putin and Lukashenko raised concerns among allies such as Lithuania.
Zelenskyy reportedly expressed no intention of meeting with Guterres following the meeting with Putin, indicating a strained relationship between Ukraine and the U.N. The fallout from the Guterres-Putin meeting has sparked outrage in Ukraine, with critics questioning the secretary general’s judgment and commitment to upholding international law. The U.N. has defended the meeting by stating that Guterres looks forward to visiting Ukraine at a mutually convenient time, as previously discussed with Zelenskyy. However, the decision to engage with leaders involved in conflicts that violate the U.N. Charter has raised doubts about the organization’s credibility.
The meeting between Guterres and Putin has drawn criticism from NATO allies, with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis suggesting that it signifies the downfall of the top international body. Landsbergis, a vocal supporter of Ukraine, indicated that if Guterres chooses to resign, Lithuania would not try to prevent it. The warm embrace between Guterres and Putin, as well as Lukashenko, has raised concerns about the U.N.’s stance on confronting aggressors and upholding international norms. The lack of a response from the State Department to this meeting further highlights the complexity of diplomatic relations amid ongoing conflicts and power struggles on the global stage.
