UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres discussed the situation in the Middle East with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, the secretary general's office said.
"The Secretary General and the President also discussed the situation in the Middle East, in particular the absolute need for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the need to avoid a further regional escalation," the office said in a statement.
During the meeting, Guterres also highlighted the importance of freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and supported the continuation of negotiations on this topic, the office added.
"The Secretary General expressed his belief that establishing freedom of navigation in the Black Sea is of paramount importance for Ukraine, the Russian Federation and for the world’s food and energy security," the statement read.
Guterres also expressed support for the continuation of negotiations on this topic and expressed gratitude for the work carried out by Turkey, the statement added.