Guterres Urges Peace at BRICS Summit

At the recent BRICS summit held in Kazan, Russia, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a 'just peace' in Ukraine, aligning with the UN Charter and international law. Guterres emphasized the need for global cooperation to address widespread conflicts, urging an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon as well. His visit marked his first to Russia since April 2022, following the onset of the Russian military offensive in Ukraine.

During the summit, Guterres met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to reinforce his stance on Ukraine. Despite this, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Guterres for attending the summit, which also saw participation from leaders like China's Xi Jinping and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The UN Secretary-General's visit was perceived as controversial, with some accusing him of not being outspoken enough against Russia's actions.

The summit also drew attention to a proposed peace plan by China and Brazil, which advocates for a comprehensive international peace conference, civilian protection, and de-escalation efforts. This plan finds support among several BRICS nations and Switzerland, yet poses challenges such as potential military escalation.

Meanwhile, Putin faced scrutiny over Russia's military actions and international relations. Despite tough questioning from Western journalists, he maintained his position, underscoring Russia's involvement in European politics and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Guterres' appeals for peace highlight the ongoing challenges in resolving international conflicts, underscoring the importance of diplomatic efforts in achieving stability and security.