Sec Sen Guterres To Visit Ukraine On August 18

A spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has confirmed the UN chief will travel to Ukraine on Thursday and Friday.

• Michelle Nichols of Reuters: "U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Lviv, Ukraine on Thursday and visit Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa on Friday [...] SG will then visit the grain deal JCC in Istanbul."
• Although, the secure operation of the UN and Turkish mediated grain corridor is the primary reason for the visit, Guterres is likely to press Kyiv on a solution to the deteriorating situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility.
• Yesterday, Guterres held a call with Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu to discuss grain exports and security at Zaporizhzhia.
• Guterres said in a statement this week: "I have appealed to all concerned to exercise common sense and reason and not to undertake any actions that might endanger the physical integrity, safety or security of the nuclear plant – the largest of its kind in Europe."
  • "Regrettably, instead of de-escalation, over the past several days there have been reports of further deeply worrying incidents that could, if they continue, lead to disaster."
  • "I urge the parties to provide the IAEA mission with immediate, secure and unfettered access to the site."
  • "We must be clear that any potential damage to Zaporizhzhia or any other nuclear facilities in Ukraine, or anywhere else, could lead to catastrophic consequences not only for the immediate vicinity, but for the region and beyond. This is wholly unacceptable."