On 22 October, Reuters reported that United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres had accepted an invitation to attend the BRICS Summit being held from 22 October to 24 October in Kazan, Russia. Additionally, the Associated Press reported that Guterres planned to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 24 October during the summit. Promote Ukraine strongly condemns Mr. Guterres’s summit attendance and meeting with Putin.

 

It is deeply troubling that the UN Secretary General has chosen to attend an event in Russia, particularly when the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Putin due to alleged war crimes committed during Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The decision to engage with a leader facing such charges raises serious ethical concerns about the message this sends to the international community.

 

In response to an inquiry from France 24, a spokesperson for Mr. Guterres emphasized the Secretary General’s “well known positions” in regard to the war in Ukraine and indicated that the sole reason for the Secretary General’s attendance of the summit is “the large numbers of important member states” that will be present. Although Mr. Guterres’s stated reason for attending the summit does appear to be suspect, his attendance is nevertheless a serious concern. Such a move suggests that Mr. Guterres is willing to publicly associate himself with Russia and other countries that have covertly supported the invasion of Ukraine.

 

Mr. Guterres’s noticeable absence from the Ukraine peace summit that took place in Switzerland this past June also raises questions about his priorities. The choice to meet Putin, rather than focusing on supporting Ukraine's legitimate defense and rebuilding efforts, may lead observers to speculate about his true intentions.

 

As stated in a social media post by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Mr. Guterres should conduct himself with a greater awareness that his public actions always reflect on the UN and on the international community as a whole. Choosing to attend the summit and meet personally with Putin plays right into Putin’s hands by demonstrating, as reported by France 24, that Putin has not become an international pariah, despite the ICC’s arrest warrant and Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. Mr. Guterres should also exercise additional caution in his interactions with Russia and other BRICS countries. The primary objective of the BRICS Summit, as reported by the Associated Press, is to present a viable alternative to the current rules-based world order, which would ultimately harm Ukraine's security and global stability.

 

Promote Ukraine expresses its deep disappointment in the Secretary General’s participation in the BRICS Summit and urges the UN to demonstrate a stronger commitment to upholding the principles of justice, accountability, and international law in the face of Russian aggression.

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[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/ukraine-blasts-uns-guterres-over-invitation-brics-summit-russia-2024-10-22/​

[2] https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241023-un-chief-in-russia-for-putin-s-brics-summit

[3] https://apnews.com/article/russia-brics-summit-china-india-ukraine-war-39e90fce8443b922f4d224c65c2ec932

[4] https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-guterres-brics-summit-russia/33166955.html

[5] https://twitter.com/MFA_Ukraine/status/184846327812655112