MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday spoke for increasing the UN's role in settling international conflicts and said he hoped for constructive dialogue with the new UN secretary-general.
"Russia, as one of the UN founding countries, has always spoken and speaks for strengthening its leading central role in international affairs, enhancing its role in the resolution of conflicts, in the fight for human rights," Putin said at a meeting with UN Secretary-General-elect Antonio Guterres.
"We, while being in constant contact with your predecessor, who is to delegate his powers to you in January next year, hope we will have the same constructive dialogue with you," he said.