MIDDLE EAST

Putin also met with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in the pair’s first meeting since April 2022.

The UN chief’s spokesman said in a statement after the meeting that Guterres “reiterated his position that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine violates the United Nations Charter and international law.”

Guterres also stressed his commitment to “establishing freedom of navigation in the Black Sea” and said the move was vital for both Ukraine and Russia, as well as global “food and energy security”.

The UN chief had previously pleaded for a “just peace” in Ukraine in a speech before Putin.

The Russian leader responded dryly, saying that Guterres had said “we should all live as one big family.”

“Unfortunately, in families, there are often quarrels, scandals, division of property and sometimes even fights,” Putin said with a smile.

Ukraine strongly criticized Guterres’ decision to meet with Putin.

Guterres also demanded an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, the release of hostages and an “immediate cessation of hostilities” in Lebanon.

While other world leaders at the summit also called for an end to Israel’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that Israel was trying to starve Gaza civilians and expel them from their lands.

Xi warned of “serious challenges” in the world and said he hoped the BRICS countries would be a “stabilizing force for peace”.

The Chinese leader stated that he supports the ceasefire in Gaza, restarting the two-state solution and stopping the “spread of war in Lebanon”.

BRICS, which started in 2009 with four members (Brazil, Russia, India and China), has expanded to include other developing countries such as South Africa, Egypt and Iran.

Venezuela’s application to join the group was rejected following a veto by Brazil; The move was condemned by Caracas on Thursday as a “hostile gesture”.