“The Russian invasion of Ukraine” was in “violation” of international law, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres insisted during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

Antonio Guterres, who met with the president of the Russian Federation on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, “reiterated the position that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was in violation of the UN Charter and international law,” according to the press release. which was released by his offices in New York, still reiterating his support for a “just peace”, by virtue of the Charter and international law.

The head of the UN also emphasized to the Russian president that he supports the “freedom of navigation in the Black Sea”, which is of key importance for Ukraine and global food and energy security.

“It fully supports the continuation of negotiations in this regard,” added the text, which welcomes Turkey’s efforts on the specific issue.

The Black Sea is a key trade route for Ukraine, which is among the world’s biggest grain producers and exporters, but has been turned into a battleground since war broke out in February 2022.

After Russia withdrew in July 2023 from the grain deal negotiated with Ukraine under the auspices of Turkey and the UN in the summer of 2022, Kiev created a Black Sea corridor to export agricultural products, mainly grain, despite Moscow’s threats to target ships moving through it.

Antonio Guterres and Vladimir Putin, who had been meeting since April 2022, also discussed the situation in the Middle East, in particular “the absolute need for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, as well as the need to avoid further regional escalation”, always when announcing the services of the former.