Guterres and Zelenski meet in Kiev to discuss the search for a "just peace"

The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), António Guterres, met on Wednesday in Kiev with the Ukrainian President, Volodymir Zelenski, to "seek solutions" to achieve the ultimate goal of a "just peace", the former said in statements to the press. 

"Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity must be maintained within its internationally recognised borders," Guterres said at the start of the meeting. 

"Our ultimate goal is equally clear, a just peace based on the UN Charter, international law and the recent General Assembly resolution marking one year since the start of the war," he added. 

Guterres noted that until this goal can be achieved, the UN will continue its efforts to mitigate the impact of the conflict both for the Ukrainian population and globally. 

In this regard, he recalled that the Ukrainian grain corridor initiative across the Black Sea has already allowed 23 million tonnes of grain to be transported, reducing the global price of food and offering "crucial relief" to those in other regions of the world "also paying a high price for the war", he stressed. 

Guterres, who on Tuesday embarked on his third trip to Kiev since the war began to address among other issues the extension of the grain deal, said Ukrainian and Russian food and fertiliser exports are "essential" to global food security. 

"I want to underline the critical importance of the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative on 18 March and of working to create the conditions for the greatest possible use of export infrastructure in the Black Sea in line with the objectives of the initiative," he said. 

He also recalled that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been "mobilised" to safeguard the safety of nuclear power plants in Ukraine, including the one in Zaporiyia, the largest in Europe. 

The UN Secretary General said he believed it was possible to mediate for the complete demilitarisation of the area and the return of the plant to normal operation, and offered the United Nations for this role. 

Zelenski, for his part, posted on his Telegram channel pictures of the reception of the UN Secretary General. 

"It is very important that we talk in Kiev about how to restore peace, international security and the full force of the UN Charter, norms that are equally important for all nations on the planet," he said.