Russian President Vladimir Putin receives UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres  in Moscow on April 26, 2022. (Photo: AFP)

At the start of his meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Moscow, Putin also said he hopes that the talks will yield a positive result and end the conflict in Ukraine. He added that despite the ongoing military operation, Russia is looking forward to agreements on a diplomatic roadmap.

Guterres urged Russia and Ukraine to work with the UN to establish corridors to send aids to Ukraine and evacuate civilians.

The same day, the UN announced that President Putin has agreed, in principle, to the involvement of the United Nations and the International Committee for the Red Cross in the evacuation of civilians from the Azovstal plant in Mariupol in Ukraine.

Earlier, following his talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Guterres told reporters that they urgently need humanitarian corridors that are truly safe and effective and that are respected by all to evacuate civilians and deliver much-needed assistance. He also proposed the establishment of a Humanitarian Contact Group - comprising Russia, Ukraine, and the UN - to look for opportunities for the opening of safe corridors.