UN Secretary-General rejects Putin’s proposal for "temporary government" in Ukraine

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent proposal to establish a "temporary government" in Ukraine under UN oversight.

Speaking on March 28, Guterres emphasized that Ukraine has a legitimate government, and its sovereignty must be respected, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

When asked about Putin’s suggestion of a UN-led temporary administration in Ukraine, Guterres stated: “First of all, Ukraine has a legitimate government, and so obviously that must be respected.” His comments were made in response to Putin's statement during a visit to Murmansk, Russia, where the Russian president argued that international practice supports the possibility of external governance to facilitate negotiations with Ukraine.

Putin suggested that for meaningful peace talks to take place, Ukraine would need a legitimate government, and proposed the introduction of a temporary administration under the auspices of the UN, the United States, European countries, and Russia's partners.

Guterres also addressed the ongoing conflict, acknowledging that the UN has had some contact with the U.S. on the matter. However, he clarified that the UN is not directly involved in ceasefire negotiations or mediation efforts in the Black Sea region at this time.

By Vugar Khalilov