Putin and UN leader Guterres show mutual respect in Moscow

MOSCOW – The United Nations’ secretary-general has told Russian President Vladimir Putin that he regards Russia as “an irreplaceable element” in international diplomacy.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said while meeting with Putin on Wednesday in Moscow: “Of course, we consider Russia as one of the key founder countries of the U.N…. Now, we are especially emphasizing that Russia is as an irreplaceable element of creating a multipolar world.”

The Russian leader spoke highly of the U.N. in return.

Putin said: “We believe that the United Nations is the only universal platform….The organization’s role as a universal instrument for settling crises in international affairs is absolutely unique.”