UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “will be received by President Vladimir Putin” on Tuesday, April 26 after a working discussion and lunch with Russia’s foreign minister, according to the UN.

“The Secretary-General will visit Moscow, Russian Federation, where, on 26 April, he will have a working meeting and lunch with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and will be received by President Vladimir Putin,” according to a United Nations statement.

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A UN spokesperson said on Wednesday that Guterres had requested separate meetings with Putin in Moscow and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukraine to emphasise the urgent need for peace.

According to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, Guterres would like to “to discuss urgent steps to bring about peace in Ukraine and the future of multilateralism based on the Charter of the United Nations and international law.”

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This comes after European Council President Charles Michel said in a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday that he “strongly urged” for quick humanitarian access and safe transit from Mariupol and other besieged cities.

Michel “firmly reiterated the EU’s position: support for Ukraine and her sovereignty, condemnation, and sanctions for Russia’s aggression,” he wrote in a verified tweet on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin reported that Putin and Michel had “a lengthy telephone conversation.”

“The development of the situation in Ukraine was discussed in detail. Charles Michel briefed Vladimir Putin on his contact with the Ukrainian leadership during his recent trip to Kyiv,” according to a Kremlin press release.

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Putin “outlined his principled assessments in connection with a special military operation to protect the republics of Donbas,” the Kremlin said, and spoke about “measures taken on an ongoing basis to protect the civilian population, the daily opening of humanitarian corridors and ceasefire declaration for the safe evacuation of civilians from the combat zone.”

“It was noted that after the liberation of Mariupol, for humanitarian reasons, an order was given to cancel the storming of the industrial zone of the Azovstal plant. At the same time, all servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, militants of the nationalist battalions, and foreign mercenaries who lay down their arms are guaranteed life, dignified treatment in accordance with international law, and the provision of qualified medical care. But the Kyiv regime does not allow them this opportunity,” the Kremlin said. 

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“Attention was drawn to the irresponsible statements of EU representatives about the need to resolve the situation in Ukraine by military means, as well as ignoring the numerous war crimes committed by the Ukrainian security forces,” the Kremlin said. “It was noted that Brussels could influence the Kiev authorities in order to force them to stop the massive shelling of Donbas settlements and other gross violations of international humanitarian law.”