UN chief calls for peace in Ukraine during Russia trip

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has called for a "just peace" in Ukraine at a meeting of BRICS leaders hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The meeting takes place on the final day of the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan, a forum Russia hopes will help forge a united front of emerging economies against the West.

"We need peace in Ukraine," Mr Guterres told a roundtable of BRICS leaders.

"A just peace in line with the UN Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions," he added.

Mr Guterres also called for peace in the Middle East, saying there needed to be an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza and an "immediate cessation of hostilities" in Lebanon.

"It takes a community of nations - working as one global family - to address global challenges," the UN leader said in his opening remarks.

After the UN chief concluded his remarks, Mr Putin gave a dry response.

"Mister General Secretary said that we should all live as one big family," the Russian leader said.

"In families, unfortunately, there are often quarrels, scandals, division of property and sometimes even fights," he added.

Mr Putin said the "goal of BRICS is to create the necessary mechanisms of interaction and create a favourable atmosphere in the common home".

Ukraine strongly criticised the UN chief's decision to meet Mr Putin, who has demanded Ukraine surrender territory in its south and east as a precondition for a ceasefire.

Ukraine said this position is "absurd".

The UN chief will hold bilateral talks with Mr Putin later today where he will reiterate his position on Ukraine, his spokesman said.

The two men last saw each other in April 2022 during the first weeks of the offensive when Mr Guterres travelled to Moscow during Russia's siege of Mariupol in south Ukraine.

Mr Guterres has since been involved in peace efforts between the two sides, helping to broker a deal that allowed Ukraine to safely export grain from its ports in 2022.

There has been little direct diplomatic contact between the two countries since.

Discussions at the summit come as Russian troops advance in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, edging closer to the key supply hub of Pokrovsk.

The United States has warned that thousands of North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia, in what the west and Ukraine fear could develop into a major troop deployment to support Russian forces.

'No place in modern world'

The United Nations spokesperson Farhan Haq said Mr Guterres would use the meeting to "reaffirm his well-known positions on the war in Ukraine".

Mr Haq said the UN chief is on standby to offer mediation, but is waiting for when "the conditions are right".

"Obviously he stands ready, when the parties are willing, to offer his services. He will continue to monitor and see when the situation is right."

Ukraine criticised Mr Guterres's Russia visit, with Kyiv's foreign ministry denouncing him for planning to meet what it called the "criminal Putin".

Mr Guterres criticised Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territory, saying it has "no place in the modern world".

He has visited areas where the Russian army has been accused of atrocities in Ukraine and repeatedly called for a "just peace".

North Korea

The meeting comes a day after the United States said it believed "thousands" of North Korean soldiers were being trained in Russia.

"We don't know what their mission will be or if they'll go on to fight in Ukraine," a senior US official said.

Mr Putin - who signed a mutual defence pact with North Korea on a trip to the reclusive state in June - has not yet commented on the reports.

Yesterday Russia said to "ask Pyongyang" about troop movements, refusing to confirm or deny the allegations.

Several world leaders have called for an end to the Ukraine conflict at the BRICS summit.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi - who has also tried to mediate between Russia and Ukraine - said earlier this week that he wanted the conflict to be resolved "peacefully".

"We totally support efforts to quickly restore peace and stability," he said.

India has walked a delicate tightrope since Russia launched its offensive, pledging humanitarian support for Kyiv while avoiding explicit condemnation of Moscow's actions.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has also urged an end to the conflict.

Last night, Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan also arrived in Kazan "as a state invited to join the (BRICS) group", his ministry said on social media platform X.

Starting in 2009 with four members - Brazil, Russia, India and China - BRICS has since expanded to include other emerging nations such as South Africa, Egypt and Iran.