News

“A standard procedure that is important”: the UN justifies Secretary-General Guterres' trip to Russia Angelika Baibak

The UN justified Guterres' trip to Kazan/Getty Images

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has arrived in Kazan, Russia. The official came for the BRICS summit and plans to meet with a number of leaders, including war criminal Vladimir Putin.

However, Deputy Speaker of the UN Secretary General Farhan Gak assures that such practice is “standard”. At the same time, he notes that this trip is also “important,” Ukrinform reports.

How the UN justifies Guterres' visit to Russia

Gak stated that Guterres' trip to Russia for the BRICS leaders' meeting is “standard practice.” He stressed that the UN Secretary General's position on Russia's war against Ukraine remains unchanged.

Let me look at these two points – the part that concerns his presence (at the BRICS event – ​​Channel 24), and the part that concerns his meeting with President Putin, – emphasized the representative of Guterres.

In particular, Gak emphasized that Guterres had previously participated in the BRICS summit, although then it was held in South Africa. However, the representative of the UN Secretary General stated that “this is standard practice for participation in meetings of organizations with a large number of important member states, such as the G7 and G20.” Moreover, Gak noted that the meeting in Kazan, Russia, “is of great importance for the UN's work with the BRICS countries, which represent about half of the world's population.”

As for the meeting with Vladimir Putin, the representative of the UN Secretary-General responded with restraint and succinctly.

As for your question about the meeting with President Putin, the Secretary-General will reaffirm his well-known position regarding the war in Ukraine and the conditions for a just peace based on the UN Charter, international law and UN resolutions, Gak said.

According to the representative of Guterres, the Secretary-General will take the opportunity to hold a number of bilateral meetings with the leaders who will participate in the summit. At the same time, Gak said that the UN Secretary General is also looking forward to meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Earlier, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry criticized Guterres' trip to the BRICS summit in Russia. The department recalled that the UN Secretary General declined an invitation to the Peace Summit, which was held in Switzerland, but at the same time accepted an invitation from a war criminal to come to the aggressor country.

During the BRICS summit, Russian dictator Putin will try to create mechanisms to strengthen his efforts in the war against Ukraine.

This is what analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) say.

BRICS summit: Putin wants to create mechanisms to strengthen the war

It is noted that 35 world leaders, including from the People's Republic of China (PRC), India, South Africa and Iran, have arrived in Kazan for the 16th annual BRICS summit, during which Russia will likely try to establish mechanisms to bolster its military efforts in Ukraine.

Now watching

According to ISW analysts, Russia will likely use the BRICS summit to highlight its efforts to strengthen ties with non-Western states. And perhaps also establish agreements and trade mechanisms through which it can support its military efforts in Ukraine by easing the impact of Western sanctions.

According to the Institute for the Study of War, on October 22, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Taliban Minister of Trade and Industry Nuriddin Azizi, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other world leaders also arrived in Kazan.

BRICS Summit: Which Leaders Has Putin Already Met With

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has already met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.

During the meeting, they emphasized the importance of multifaceted Russian-Chinese relations. In turn, Xi noted that BRICS is a format for global strategic cooperation

Putin also held a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. With them, the Russian dictator discussed bilateral relations, the creation of a multipolar world order and the use of national currencies in mutual trade settlements.

Modi once again emphasized the need to find an early peaceful solution to the full-scale war in Ukraine. He also confirmed India's role as a potential mediator.

At the same time, on October 22, Indian Foreign Minister Vikram Misri announced that India had returned 85 of its citizens who had involuntarily joined the Russian Armed Forces to fight against Ukraine. According to him, Modi will hold talks with Russian authorities on the return of another 20 Indian citizens during the BRICS summit.

Note that this year the BRICS summit is being organized by Russia. Thus, Russian dictator Putin is receiving the leaders of the organization's countries in the city of Kazan from October 22 to 24.

Recall that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic refused to come to Russia for the BRICS summit despite the fact that he was personally invited by the president of the aggressor country Putin.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will also not come to Putin at BRICS.

China Feels Very Comfortable: How Russia Helps It Angela Figin

Strengthening cooperation between Russia and North Korea frightens the whole world. At the same time, the expansion of relations between Moscow and Pyongyang could play into China's hands.

This opinion was expressed to Channel 24 by political strategist Boris Tiesenhausen. He explained why Beijing benefits from the DPRK's participation in the war against Ukraine on Russia's side and how Xi Jinping can take advantage of this.

How China turned the situation to its advantage

Rumor has it that it is not in China's interests for Russia to strengthen cooperation with the DPRK. However, such statements may be wrong. After all, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un are currently testing the strength of China's future enemy in an armed confrontation – the United States of America and European countries.

Therefore, it is quite possible that Xi Jinping likes it when his two vassals unite and “storm” the countries of the European Union, – Tiesenhausen noted.

According to him, China is now feeling very comfortable because Russia is weak and has resources. Kim Jong-un is terrorizing South Korea and its allies, in particular the United States.

Important! After evidence emerged of North Korean participation in the war in Ukraine on the side of Russia, South Korea said it could send military personnel, intelligence officers, and enemy tactics experts who specialize in North Korea to Ukraine.

At the same time, Beijing is drawing Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and other countries of the so-called Customs Union under its umbrella.

All of them have already left the Russian orbit and China has accepted them, the political strategist noted.

Recall that Chinese leader Xi Jinping will attend the BRICS summit, which will be held in Kazan from October 22 to 24. For the aggressor country, this meeting is extremely important, because Putin wants to show that the West will not be able to isolate Russia after the invasion of Ukraine begins.

Note that Executive Director of the Penta Center for Applied Political Research Alexander Leonov believes that Xi Jinping is going to the BRICS summit exclusively to emphasize China's influence in the region and build a new bipolar world.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set to attend the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan, where he will meet with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

During the meeting, Guterres wants to discuss with the head of the Kremlin, first of all, the war in Ukraine.

Deputy Secretary-General Farhan Haq announced this during a press briefing.

Now watching

Guterres to meet with Putin at BRICS summit in Kazan

The meeting between the UN Secretary-General and war criminal Putin is scheduled for Thursday, October 24.

According to the Deputy Secretary-General, Guterres at the BRICS summit, it will reaffirm its position on the Russian-Ukrainian war and the conditions for a just peace based on the UN Charter, international law and UN resolutions.

— It will continue to make efforts to ensure the safety of shipping in the Black Sea, which is especially important for global food and energy security, — added Farhan Haq.

The Deputy Secretary General also said that Guterres' visit to the BRICS summit would be the same step as in the past, when a similar event was held in South Africa.

— This is standard practice for attending meetings of organizations such as the G7 and G20, which include many important states, — said Farhan Haq.

Recall that the BRICS summit is taking place in the Russian city of Kazan from October 22 to 24.

The last time Guterres met with Putin was on April 26, 2022, during which the parties discussed the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Commenting on Guterres' visit to Kazan, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called this step the “wrong choice”, which “does not contribute to peace” and “damages the reputation of the UN.

The IDF has confirmed the killing of Hezbollah leader Hashim Safi al-Din's successor, Yuli Murin

Hashim Safi ad-Din was killed/Get ty Images (photo illustrative)

About 3 weeks ago, the Israel Defense Forces killed the successor to the leader of the Lebanese group Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah. We are talking about Hashim Safi al-Din.

This was confirmed by the Israel Air Force on the social network X, formerly known as Twitter.

Hashim Safi al-Din was killed

The Israeli military confirmed the elimination of Hashim Safi al-Din.

About three weeks ago, Hashim Safi al-Din, chairman of the executive council of the terrorist group Hezbollah, and Hossein Ali Zima, head of Hezbollah's intelligence staff, were killed during an attack on Daha in Beirut along with others commanders, the Israeli Air Force said.

Israeli warplanes attacked the main intelligence headquarters of the terrorist organization Hezbollah, located underground. According to the Air Force, 25 Hezbollah officials were there at the time of the attack.

By the way, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the assassination of Nasrallah's successor on October 8. However, the military noted that this needs to be verified.

The head of the Poltava Bureau of Economic Security (BES) Oleg Pakhnits noted in his declaration 30 land plots, an airplane, a boat, a hunting weapon and a whole fleet of cars.

This follows from Pakhnits' declaration for 2023, which was updated in April of this year.

Oleg Pakhnits' Declaration

Thus, according to the declaration, Oleg Pakhnits was able to earn $6.5 million last year.

Now watching

He lists a Socata TB20GT aircraft as his property, although it is added that the aircraft belongs to the Progress agricultural enterprise, which is associated with the current head of the BEB in Poltava region. At the same time, Pakhnits received the rights to the aircraft back in 2021. It is noteworthy that the approximate price of the Socata TB 20 GT aircraft varies from €180,000 to almost €400,000, according to the Planecheck portal.

In addition, he has 13 declared vehicles: six of them are trucks (DAF, MAN, Scania, etc.), as well as 7 passenger cars, in particular a Porsche Cayenne, Audi A8, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and others. Two passenger cars (Audi A8, Volvo V60) are registered to his wife Svetlana Pakhnits, while all the other passenger cars are registered to the head of the Poltava Regional BEB.

Pakhnits also owns 30 plots of land, 5 apartments (one of them is in Slovakia), 13 parking spaces, and a residential building.

The official also owns a watercraft the UMS Boat, which Pachnits has owned since 2010.

The head of the Poltava TU BEB also has four units of hunting weapons.

Oleg Pachnits himself has not publicly commented on the availability of this property and funds.

What is known about Oleg Pachnits

Oleg Pachnits was born in 1975 in Mariupol.

During his education, he studied at the National Law Academy of Ukraine named after Yaroslav Mudryi, majoring in Jurisprudence with subsequent qualification as a lawyer.

Oleg Pakhnits joined the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine in December 2022 and immediately headed the territorial administration of the BES in Poltava region. Oleh Pakhnitsa's annual salary in this position is 700 thousand UAH.

Pakhnitsa, who is 49 years old, was engaged in business before becoming the head of the Poltava department of the BEB.

Before that, from 1998 to 2014, Oleh Pakhnitsa worked in the Ukrainian prosecutor's office.

Recall that on October 17, People's Deputy Irina Allahverdiyeva was informed of suspicion of illegal enrichment of more than 20 million UAH.

Before that, back in November 2022, the High Anti-Corruption Court ordered the Prosecutor General's Office to investigate information that People's Deputy Irina Allahverdiyeva was presented with about 20 million UAH.

Turkey exported military goods to Russia, but now has imposed a secret ban on this Irina Chebotnikova

Russian weapons have Western parts/Collage 24 Channel, photo Getty Images

Ankara helped Russia circumvent sanctions by supplying the occupiers with Western military goods, particularly American ones. But it stopped doing so after a warning from the US.

Such data was reported by sources to the Financial Times. However, the ban on these exports is secret – due to the sensitivity of the issue.

How Turkey supplied military goods to Russia

Turkey exported military products manufactured in the US to Russia. But Washington threatened consequences if this continued.

Therefore, Turkish customs secretly restricted the export of 50 items. It was not announced publicly because the issue is politically sensitive..

The list includes:

• microchips;
• remote control systems;
• processors and memory cards used in missiles and drones;
• machine tools and other equipment.

The US, UK, EU and Japan call these parts critically important for Russian military.

Journalists analyzed government statistics and concluded that: the volume of Turkish exports of these goods has increased more than 12-fold since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion and reached $38 million as of December 2022.

Since the beginning of 2024, the volume of military exports to Russia has begun to decline – by August, this figure had fallen to $4.1 million. This is because the supply chain has expanded to include Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

Russia primarily receives Western military components through China: in July 2024, their exports reached $377 million.

Ukraine is ready to discuss any options for ending a full-scale war within the framework of the Peace Formula, provided that they comply with international law and support territorial integrity and sovereignty.

This statement was made by the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak in a column for the Finnish publication Hufvudstadsbladet.

Under what conditions will Ukraine discuss ending the war

Ukraine cannot accept any changes that threaten its existence, the right to self-determination or the human dignity of the Ukrainian people, being a victim of Russian aggression, Andriy Yermak emphasized.

Now watching

According to him, Ukraine is ready to consider various options for resolving a full-scale war in the context of the Peace Formula, but exclusively provided that the territorial integrity of Ukraine is respected and international law is observed.

However, Russia must be held accountable, in particular for ecocide. The Head of the Presidential Office believes that this is necessary to prevent such crimes from happening in the future.

— But first, we must win and create conditions for peace. To this end, President Zelensky presented the Ukraine Victory Plan, — noted Andriy Yermak.

According to him, Ukraine is already ready to agree on a peace framework during the Second Peace Summit. In particular, Ukraine wants to build peace not only for itself, but also for the entire international community, so the allies should not stop.

According to Andriy Yermak, the Peace Formula establishes the basic principles of peace in Ukraine, but all states should take an active part. He is convinced that the implementation of these principles should be adjusted and supplemented.

Unrealistic deadline: when the Kremlin wants to oust the Ukrainian Armed Forces from Kursk region Natalia Belzetskaya

The Russian authorities have set new deadlines for their troops to recapture the territory of the Kursk region, which is under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Kremlin sources claim that Vladimir Putin allegedly wants to oust the Ukrainian military in the coming months.

The date for the liberation of Kursk region is allegedly February 1, 2025, and a so-called “buffer zone” should be created by February 25. As military-political observer of the Information Resistance group Alexander Kovalenko told Channel 24, this time Putin chose more realistic deadlines.

Why Putin chose such deadlines

Previously, the head of the Kremlin chose deadlines for one month, several weeks. But in the case of Kurshchina, they are talking about months. This indicates that Putin has approached the issue more rationally.

If we are talking about February 1, 2025, this is more or less realistic. But when Russian troops launched a counteroffensive in the Kursk region on September 10, they were supposed to liberate it by Putin's birthday on October 7, according to the established deadlines, noted Alexander Kovalenko.

This did not happen and as of October 22, 2024, the Ukrainian Defense Forces not only did not leave the Kursk region, but also counterattacked, sometimes occupying positions and settlements that the Russians reported as liberated.

These are all elements of a maneuver war, which Russia does not know how to fight. The Russians do not understand where the Ukrainian Armed Forces advanced, over which village our soldiers established control. This is because there is no stabilized line of combat, which we see in Ukraine, so the invaders feel more confident on Ukrainian territory than on their own.

In addition, the occupiers said that they will create a so-called “buffer zone” by February 25. Using the example of the northern part of the Kharkiv region, we see that such actions are ineffective and uncomfortable for Russians.

Creating a “buffer zone” along the border with Ukraine is an unrealistic deadline. It is at odds with a more or less rational approach to the Kursk region. But it seems to me that they will not be able to achieve either the first or the second and are getting another deadline, for example, May 9, – concluded Alexander Kovalenko.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reported that work on providing Ukraine with a $50 billion loan from the G7 countries is nearing completion.

It is also known that the United States has almost agreed to provide its share of the $50 billion loan.

$50 billion loan for Ukraine

Scholz emphasized that Germany, together with its partners, stands firmly on the side of Ukraine, Berlin and Helsinki are among those who support Kyiv the most.

Now watching

— And it is clear to both of us that we will continue this support, help protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, — the Chancellor said before the start of talks in Berlin with Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

He stressed that Putin should not expect that the allies will leave Ukraine in the clear. In this context, he said that work on providing the $50 billion loan agreed upon by the G7 countries was nearing completion.

According to him, this should be a clear signal of long-term support.

US loan as part of $50 billion loan

Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that Washington had almost determined the amount of its contribution to the G7 initiative to provide Ukraine with a $50 billion loan.

— Speaking about the $50 billion loan that the G7 leaders agreed to provide to Ukraine… We are very close to finalizing the US portion of this loan, — Yellen said, adding that the agreement was 99% ready.

According to her, the US is still waiting for guarantees from the EU to introduce a longer-term sanctions regime to ensure that profits from Russian assets remain available.

The EU sanctions regime currently requires unanimous renewal every six months.

In September, Bloomberg reported, citing sources, that the US was ready to allocate up to $20 billion to Ukraine as part of a G7 loan that would be repaid using revenues from frozen Russian assets.

The publication's sources noted that even if the EU does not make any changes to the sanctions provisions against Russia, the US will still transfer funds, but in smaller size.