FM Lavrov & UN chief Guterres meet; discuss ways to peacefully resolve Russia-Ukraine War

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met in Moscow on Tuesday, April 26. The two discussed ways to find a peaceful resolution to the ongoing war. At the crucial meeting, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres told a press briefing that the UN is “extremely interested in finding ways to create the conditions for effective dialogue, create the conditions for a ceasefire as soon as possible, create the conditions for a peaceful solution”. "I know that we have different interpretations about what's happening in Ukraine," Guterres said. "That does not limit the possibility to have a very serious dialogue on how best we can work to minimize the suffering of people,” he added. 

UN chief, alongside Russia’s foreign minister, said that the UN is ready to fully mobilize its resources and save the civilian lives in the besieged city of Mariupol. "Thousands of civilians are in dire need of lifesaving humanitarian assistance, and many have evacuated," said Guterres. "The United Nations is ready to fully mobilize its human and logistical resources to help save lives in Mariupol," he added. The UN, he further stressed, is coordinating with the Red Cross to allow those holed up inside the Azovstal steel plant to have a safe evacuation. UN chief also called for an independent investigation into the allegations of war crimes by Ukraine, acknowledging Russia’s concerns. Lavrov meanwhile said that Moscow is ready to cooperate with the UN to help the civilians safely evacuate the war zone. "Our goals are primarily to protect the civilian population and here we are ready to cooperate with our colleagues from the UN to alleviate the plight of the civilian population." Russian foreign minister, meanwhile, dismissed Kyiv's proposal to hold peace talks in Mariupol saying that it is too early to discuss the prospect of a ceasefire.

Lavrov went on to add Ukraine has “become a catalyst for a great number of problems” not mentioning the details of the threat but, labelling the country as a bed of hostilities for the entire European and Atlantic regions. The Russian foreign minister also emphasised the multilateralism and the functions of the United Nations to Forster global peace. “These principles of true multilateralism have for a number of years been flouted by the West that has undertaken the tactics of instilling into the world arena the unilateral world order for it to stay for good,” said Lavrov on Tuesday via a translator. Meanwhile UN Chief Guterres stressed that the global body was, in fact, “very committed multilateralist based on the values of the UN Charter and international law.”

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov accused the NATO defence Alliance of engaging in a proxy war. He lambasted the framework for supplying Ukraine with heavy and advanced armed weaponry that risks spilling the conflict outside of Kyiv. He warned of WWIII, asserting "the risks now are considerable.” "The danger is serious, real. And we must not underestimate it," Lavrov said. "NATO, in essence, is engaged in a war with Russia through a proxy and is arming that proxy. War means war,” he said separately in remarks to Channel One.

UN chief to speak to President Vladimir Putin

Guterres who is in Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin will attempt to broker a ceasefire and reach a truce in Ukraine. A spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres informed that Guterres will focus on “what can be done to bring peace to Ukraine urgently.” Guterres will also travel to Ukraine next week, and meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on 28 April. He will also meet with UN staff on the ground to discuss the scaling up of humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine. UN’s chief Guterres had written separate letters to the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, requesting to meet with them and hold talks on the ongoing war, to which the leaders had agreed. Both Putin and Lavrov are meeting with Guterres on the same day. Guterres had also announced a four-day humanitarian pause in Ukraine ahead of his crucial visit.