UN chief en path to Kyiv, will meet Zelensky: spokesman

UNITED NATIONS: UN chief Antonio Guterres was touring to Ukraine Tuesday to satisfy in Kyiv with President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his third journey since Russia’s full-scale invasion, his spokesman mentioned.

“The Secretary-Normal has simply arrived in Poland on his method to Ukraine,” Stephane Dujarric mentioned in a press release.

Guterres was as a result of arrive in Kyiv later Tuesday earlier than assembly with Zelensky Wednesday morning “to debate the continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (grain export scheme) in all its points, in addition to different pertinent points,” the spokesman mentioned.

Guterres is because of depart Ukraine on Wednesday, and be again at United Nations headquarters in New York the next day.

Ukraine vows to maintain defending Bakhmut amid persistent Russian assaults

No additional particulars got on the go to, the UN chief’s third after journeys to Ukraine in April and August final 12 months within the wake of Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2022.

At a UN Safety Council assembly held on the anniversary of the beginning of the warfare, Guterres slammed the invasion is a “blatant violation” of the UN Constitution and worldwide regulation.

“It has unleashed widespread demise, destruction and displacement,” he advised the 15-member council, which incorporates everlasting member Russia, saying life was “a residing hell for the folks of Ukraine.”

Guterres has emphasised the human toll of the warfare, saying greater than eight million Ukrainians have fled to different elements of Europe, and one other 5.4 million are internally displaced.

Half of Ukrainian kids have been compelled from their properties, and face increased dangers of violence, abuse and exploitation, he advised the Safety Council final month.

The UN Normal Meeting voted overwhelmingly in late February to demand Russia withdraw its troops from Ukraine.

However the Safety Council assembly on the anniversary was largely symbolic.

The UN’s strongest physique has met 40 instances over the previous 12 months on the Ukraine warfare however has achieved little binding motion as a result of Russia’s wielding of its veto energy.

Over the previous 12 months, Guterres has repeatedly supplied to behave as mediator between Kyiv and Moscow ought to the 2 sides wish to begin a dialogue.

Throughout his first go to to Ukraine after Russia invaded, Guterres referred to as warfare “an absurdity in (the) twenty first century.”

That journey, throughout which he additionally met with Zelensky, was marred by a Russian air strike on Kyiv that left a journalist lifeless. The go to had adopted talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Guterres’s journey in August targeted on unblocking grain exports.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative was brokered by the United Nations with Turkey final July and has helped cut back spiraling meals costs that contributed to starvation within the creating world. The deal is ready to run out this month.

Kyiv has seen a string of high-profile visits from Western leaders previously 12 months.

President Joe Biden of the US, a key Ukraine backer, made the journey final month.