UN Chief Meets President Putin in Russia
The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in Russia for ‘Victory Day’ marking 70 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe, met with President Vladimir Putin to discuss issues including conflict in Ukraine and climate change.
“The Secretary-General and President Putin discussed in depth the way forward on Ukraine,” said a statement from Mr. Ban’s spokesman’s office on Saturday.
Both agreed that full and good faith implementation by all sides of the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements presented the best opportunity to bring forth a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Mr. Ban and President Putin also exchanged views on UN engagement toward this end, the statement said.
“They also discussed the political process on Syria, Russia’s contribution to peacekeeping and climate change,” the note added.
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Also with the Secretary-General were Irina Bokova, Director-General at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs.
While in Moscow, Mr. Ban also met with the President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades. The UN chief said he welcomed the “new optimism” about the resumption of negotiations aimed at achieving a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus.
The Secretary-General and the President also exchanged views on climate change ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held in Paris, France in December 2015.
