Antonio Guterres may have reason to regret that awkward handshake with a smiling Vladimir Putin and the hug with Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko, or indeed the decision to attend the BRICS summit on Russian soil. Ukrainians are furious and have rescinded an invitation to visit.
It wasn’t the kind of impact the Secretary General of the United Nations hoped to have given his remit to foster constructive diplomacy in the biggest geopolitical hot spots. Israel has openly asked for his resignation for what it sees as a UN bias in the Mideast conflict.