UN chief requests meetings with Putin and Zelenskyy to negotiate ending the war

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is requesting meetings with with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in order to negotiate ending the war that has been going on for almost two months.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Wednesday that Guterres had sent letters to the UN missions of Russia and Ukraine requesting Putin to receive him in Moscow and Zelenskyy to receive him in Kyiv.

Dujarric said in a statement, “The Secretary-General said, at this time of great peril and consequence, he would like 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.”

Guterres called for a four-day truce in an Easter appeal on Tuesday during the Orthodox Christian Holy Week to allow for civilian evacuations and the delivery of humanitarian aid to hard-hit areas. Guterres said, “Humanitarian needs are dire. People do not have food, water, supplies to treat the sick or wounded or simply to live day-to-day.”

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24th has killed thousands of people and left over 12 million in need of humanitarian assistance. About five million have fled Ukraine. Since Russia started its “special operation to demilitarise Ukraine”, cities have been bombed and the bodies of hundreds of civilians have been in towns after forces withdrew from areas near Kiev.

Moscow, which launched a full-scale offensive in east Ukraine this week, denies targeting civilians saying, with no evidence, that indicators of atrocities committed had been staged. Western countries and Ukraine accuse Putin of unprovoked aggression.

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES