Zelensky refuses to receive Guterres in Kiev, Ukraine confident of US support with Trump or Harris in power: day 975 of the war
The Ukrainian President this Friday intensified his criticism of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, who has been attacked by Ukraine’s allies for taking his message of peace to the BRICS summit in Russia, and for having spoken with Vladimir Putin.
According to Politico and AFP, several Ukrainian officials said that Volodymyr Zelensky did not like the handshake between Guterres and the Russian President, and the image of the two shaking hands at the summit in Kazan motivated this deterioration in the relationship between Zelensky and the Portuguese.
“He gave him [a Putin] a handshake. He smiled. He was asked to promote the BRICS summit further. He was used by them, and he seemed happy to do so” commented one of these Ukrainian officers, speaking to the website Politico.
On Thursday, in his usual evening speech, Zelensky pointed out that it is “crucial” that the world remembers the Charter of Human Rights and does not allow itself to be “enticed” by the “enchantment” of the BRICS summit. This Friday, the UN spokesperson clarified that, during the meeting with Putin, the Portuguese “repeated his position that the Russian invasion of Ukraine violated the UN Charter and international law”.
The summit in the city of Kazan brought together some of the main economies of the non-Western world and not included in the G7including Russia, China, India, Brazil and South Africa. In addition to representing almost half (45%) of the world’s population, the economies of the countries that participated in the summit already surpass the economies of the G7 countries.
Meeting of leaders at the BRICS summit
Anadolu
Guterres was present at the summit to defend peace in several regions around the world, especially in the Middle East, Ukraine and South Sudan. This is not the first time that the United Nations leader has traveled to Russia since the beginning of the invasion in Ukraine, and the Portuguese has visited Kiev many times, especially during the UN-led negotiations on the Black Sea grain agreement.
Despite attempts by the UN Secretary General to contact all parties involved in the different conflicts, the Ukrainian Government condemned dialogue with Putin, who is accused by the International Criminal Court of alleged war crimes for the invasion of Ukraine. Through the social network X (formerly Twitter), the Ukrainian Foreign Minister said that Guterres made “the wrong choice that does not advance the cause of peace” and that “only damages the reputation of the UN”.
The widow of Russian activist Alexei Navalny also lamented António Guterres’ diplomatic attitude. “In the third year of the war, the UN Secretary General is shaking hands with a murderer,” wrote Yulia Navalnaya on the X social network.
Ukraine confident of US support, win Trump or Harris
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister trusts in the support of the United States of America (USA), regardless of the result of the US presidential elections in November, stressing that peace in Ukraine is in the interests of all countries.
In an interview with the Lusa agency in Luanda, and when asked about what could change for Ukraine, if the Americans choose Donald Trump or Kamala Harris to succeed Joe Biden, Andrii Sybiha stated that he is confident that US support will keep him same, regardless of who the next tenant of the White House is.
“When President Zelensky visited the USA recently, he met with both presidential candidates, to whom he presented his plan for victory. There was a very productive meeting with both candidates and important meetings with representatives of both parties, Republicans and Democrats. This is crucial”, highlighted the Ukrainian official, stressing that “achieving lasting peace for Ukraine is also a strategic interest” for the USA and the democratic world.
“We are protecting our common values, we are protecting democracy. The war in Ukraine is not just about Ukraine. It is about the restoration of world order based on international law and the principles of the UN Charter”, he reinforced.
Andrii Sybiha, who included Angola in his tour of Africa and the Middle East (this is also the first visit by a head of Ukrainian diplomacy to the country), seeking to consolidate support for Ukraine, pointed out that the Portuguese-speaking country will take over the African Union in the next year and that for Ukraine it is important to “understand the bloc’s vision” on the conflict and how it can cooperate with the African Union, under the Angolan presidency.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
The official highlighted that “Russia’s propaganda” on the African continent “is very strong” and cannot be underestimated.
“They abuse the positive reputation of the Soviet Union, so of course we need more support from African countries to get closer to peace”, continued the head of Ukrainian diplomacy, adding that the consequences of Russia’s aggressions are also being felt in Africa.
Regarding the future trip of the North American president, Joe Biden, to Angola, scheduled for December and already after the North American presidential elections of November 5th, he considered that it is the recognition of the transformation and reform of the country and “a sign of the future of very important projects that will be developed”, as well as the Lobito Corridor.
Other news:
⇒ The first units of North Korean soldiers have already reached the combat zone in the Russian region of Kurskwhere Ukrainian troops control hundreds of square kilometers, Ukrainian military authorities said. The statement comes on the same day that Russian deputies unanimously voted to ratify the “comprehensive strategic partnership treaty” with North Korea, which provides for mutual assistance in the event of armed aggression by a third country;
⇒ The president of the European Commission this Friday classified the reform program presented by Serbia as “excellent” and said that Belgrade will receive 110 million euros in pre-financing this year. Serbia, a candidate for membership in the European Union (EU), presented a reform plan to advance the process, after showing rapprochement with Russia, namely by refusing to apply sanctions to Moscow, following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022;
⇒ North Korea guaranteed that any sending of its troops to Russia would respect international law, according to the official KCNA agency, without confirming or denying that it had already sent soldiers. “If what the international media is saying happens, I think it will be done in accordance with the rules of international law,” said Kim Jong Gyu, vice minister of Foreign Affairs, responsible for relations with Russia, quoted by KCNA ;
⇒ On the other hand, the German government considered that North Korea’s support for Russia through military equipment or the “possible use of personnel” would be a “clear escalation” in the war in Ukraine. Pyongyang “must not contribute” to the conflict and must “refrain from doing anything in this direction”, said German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Kathrin Deschauer at a regular government press conference in Berlin;
⇒ The Foreign Ministers of Angola and Ukraine addressed this Friday the strengthening of political-diplomatic ties and the intensification of cooperation in sectors such as agriculture and staff training. According to the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Ukraine sees Angola as a fundamental actor on the African continent and intends to strengthen political-diplomatic ties, counting on the support of all countries that, like Angola, are defenders of peace and stability international”.
