UN chief ready to mediate Ukraine talks following Kyiv’s proposal to hold peace summit in February

UN Secretary-General António Guterres can become a mediator in talks on Ukraine if all parties agree to it, the UN chief’s office told TASS.

“As the secretary-general has said many times in the past, he can only mediate if all parties want him to mediate,” the news agency was told.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said earlier in an interview with The Associated Press that Kyiv was hoping to organise an international summit in February 2023 dedicated to achieving peace in Ukraine. The Ukrainian official then added that Guterres could play an active role in the event.

“Every war ends as a result of the actions taken on the battlefield and at the negotiating table. <…> The United Nations could be the best venue for holding this summit, because this is not about making a favour to a certain country,” he said. “This is really about bringing everyone on board.”

When asked if Ukraine wants to invite Russia to the table, Kuleba said that Moscow first needs to be held responsible for war crimes at an international court.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was earlier asked if Moscow was willing to hold talks with certain preconditions imposed by Kyiv and responded, saying that Russia is only focused on its own goals. “We never followed others’ conditions. We only concentrate on ours’. And common sense,” he said.

On 21 December, the White House hosted a meeting of US and Ukrainian leaders Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky. Biden said that Putin is trying to use “winter as a weapon”, reminding the world once again that the US and Europe support Kyiv and want to get a “just peace” for the country. The US president noted that Ukrainians inspire the whole world. In turn, Zelensky thanked the US government and the people for their support and assistance.