UN chief to meet with Putin, Zelenskyy to press for peace

By JENNIFER PELTZ
Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations says Secretary-General Antonio Guterres plans to meet separately with the presidents of Russia and Ukraine next week to make an urgent plea for peace. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Friday that Guterres is to meet Tuesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and that Putin will also host the U.N. chief. The U.N. says Guterres will then head to Ukraine Thursday to see President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Guterres asked this week to meet with both presidents in their respective capitals. The U.N. says Guterres wants to discuss steps that can be taken immediately to stop the fighting and help civilians get to safety.