Activities of Secretary-General in Russian Federation, 8-10 May

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon flew on Friday, 8 May, from Kyiv, Ukraine, to Moscow, Russian Federation, to attend the celebration of “Victory Day”, marking the end of the Second World War.

The Secretary-General was greeted in Red Square by Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, before the military parade, and then joined a flower-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Alexandrovsky Garden.  He was also present at the State reception given at the Grand Kremlin Palace.

In the afternoon, the Secretary-General met with President Nicos Anastasiades of Cyprus, and welcomed the new optimism about the resumption of negotiations aimed at achieving a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus.

Later, he held a bilateral meeting with President Putin, to whom he expressed his appreciation for the invitation to attend the “Victory Day” celebrations and commemorate the sacrifice and contribution of millions of people 70 years ago.

The Secretary-General and President Putin discussed in depth the way forward on Ukraine, with both agreeing that full and good faith implementation by all sides of the "Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements" presented the best opportunity to bring forth a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

The Secretary-General had dinner with the United Nations country team based in the Russian Federation, before attending in the evening a gala concert at Red Square and the fireworks display marking the end of the celebrations of Victory Day.

He flew back from Moscow to New York on the morning of 10 May.