**Zelensky Declines UN Chief’s Visit Following Russian Trip**

In a recent development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has denied a visit request from UN Secretary General António Guterres after his contentious trip to Russia. Sources within the Ukrainian presidential office conveyed this decision to the BBC.

Guterres had reportedly intended to visit Kyiv after attending a Brics summit in the Russian city of Kazan. However, Ukrainian officials found it inappropriate to host him after his engagement with Russia, the nation that initiated a large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. "The president did not confirm his visit," a source informed the BBC, highlighting that it would be "somehow strange to host him here" following his interactions in Russia.

Guterres' visit to Russia, where he called for a "just peace" in Ukraine and emphasized that Russia's invasion was in "violation of the United Nations Charter and international law," did not sit well with many in Ukraine. The Ukrainian foreign ministry criticized Guterres' decision, labeling it as a "wrong choice" that harms the UN's reputation more than it aids peace efforts.

Adding to the list of grievances, the Ukrainian foreign ministry noted that Guterres had declined an invitation to attend the first Global Peace Summit in Switzerland, which was initiated by Ukraine and attended by over 90 nations. At the summit, participants condemned Russia's invasion and proposed a peace strategy to end the conflict. Russia, notably absent from the event, dismissed it as inconsequential.

Guterres' office justified his appearance at the Brics summit, citing Brics' significant role in enhancing global cooperation. Brics, an economic bloc established in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, now includes South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Analysts suggest that countries like Russia and China within Brics are seeking to rival the G7, which comprises the world's seven largest economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US.

Following the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a news conference, further highlighting the strain between Ukraine and Russia, and the complexities of international diplomacy amid ongoing conflict.