Key quotes from the Reuters Next conference

(Reuters) – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy headline the news makers speaking at the Reuters Next conference on Wednesday and Thursday.

The following are key quotes so far from the event:

Bank of America’s Brian Moynihan on the economy:

“Our research team is the best in the business and they have moved to the soft landing category. They have a slowdown in the economy in the middle of next year.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on an EU Membership bid:

“Today is a successful day … Reforms are also fighting – with an old system. Of course, we need it to become member of the EU, but we do it for us, we need it.”

How the war with Russia:

“Why do you think the country in war, the country which has been attacked, should be ready for compromise? … Russia’s soldiers have to go to their own land. They have to go out. This is the real way to stop the war.”

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the military operations in Gaza:

“There are violations by Hamas when they have human shields. But when one looks at the number of civilians that were killed with the military operations, there is something that is clearly wrong.”

“It is also important to make Israel understand that it is against the interests of Israel to see every day the terrible image of the dramatic humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people,” Guterres said. “That doesn’t help Israel in relation to the global public opinion.”

On reviving a landmark deal that allowed the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain, which Russia quit in July over complaints about its own exports:

“We are going on with our efforts. But it will be difficult.”

Marwan al-Muasher, Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, on the potential for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel:

“We have to find a way to have a ceasefire as a first priority, then we need to start dealing with the root-cause of the conflict because if you don’t deal with it, you’re not going to solve anything and the root-cause is the occupation.”

“It is the longest occupation in modern history, 56 years old, and unless we…do something serious about it I’m afraid that the cycle of violence is going to continue.”

(compiled by Edward Tobin)

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