Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine denounces the UN official after his trip to Russia

Volodymyr Zelensky canceled a visit to Ukraine by UN Secretary General António Guterres for his trip to Russia, a source in the presidential office told the BBC.

After attending the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan this week, Guterres wanted to visit Kyiv, the BBC understands.

“The president did not confirm his visit,” the source told the BBC. “After Kazan and after he shook hands with a warmonger and spent UN Day in an aggressive country, it would be somewhat strange to host him here.”

Guterres’ visit to Russia – which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 – was met with dismay across Ukraine.

During his visit, Guterres called for a “just peace” in Ukraine and reiterated his position to Putin that Russia’s attack on the country “violates the United Nations Charter and international law,” a UN spokesman said after the meeting.

In a statement ahead of Guterres’ visit to Kazan, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said: “This is a wrong decision that does not advance the cause of peace. It only damages the reputation of the UN.”

“The UN Secretary-General rejected Ukraine’s invitation to the World Peace Conference in Switzerland. However, he accepted an invitation to Kazan from the war criminal Putin,” the statement said.

At the BRICS summit in Kazan, Guterres issued a statement saying: “We need peace in Ukraine. A just peace that complies with the UN Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions.”

Guterres’ office prepared his participation in the conference, referring to the role of BRICS “to promote global cooperation”.

Brics was founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, later Brics was joined by South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates.

A number of analysts say that other members of BRICS, such as Russia and China, want to challenge the G7 group of the seven largest economies in the world.

The current members of the G7 are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US.