Putin and UN Secretary General ‘separated’ says expert
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In light of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s visit on Tuesday to the Kremlin to discuss ways to find a “peaceful solution” in Ukraine with Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, BBC correspondent Jenny Hill speaking from Moscow said: “The meeting did not go very well”. Putin and Mr Guterres were far more separated than few metres of furniture.” Putin and UN Secretary-General were sitting apart separated by the ‘infamous long Kremlin table”, said Ms Hill.
Speaking with Ms Hill, BBC Breakfast presenter asked: “How did the meeting between President Putin and the UN Secretary-General actually go yesterday?”
Ms Hill responded: “I would say not very well.
“Part of the meeting was televised, so we got a bit of a look at the men sitting down by now that infamous long Kremlin table.
“And it became clear extremely quickly that they are far more separated than few mitres of furniture.”
“Vladimir Putin was at first rather calm.
“He gave a long defence and justification of his invasion of Ukraine.
“Not, of course, he would call it that.”
Referring to the meeting, Ms Hill also said: “Mr Guterres repeatedly tried to get him to agree to come to the aid of civilians.
“Particularly in the city of Mariupol and particularly those who are sheltering in the Azovstal plant.
“[The plant] still works and it is still held by Ukrainian fighters defending the works.”
Referring to the meeting outcome, Ms Hill claimed: “We were told afterwards that Mr Guterres said that Vladimir Putin agreed in principle to allow UN and Red Cross with the setting of humanitarian corridors there.
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“But it is very tenuous.”
“Mr Guterres has come to Moscow and walked away with nothing.
“[Mr Guterres] also had a pretty cold reception from Mr Putin’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Mr Guterres said he had gone to Moscow as a messenger of peace, and added: “Thousands of civilians are in dire need of lifesaving humanitarian assistance, and many have evacuated.”
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