Engaging with Putin is the only possibly useful thing Guterres has ever done. He is all mouth and trousers normally. Treating Putin like a bogeyman and shunning him, when he is the only person who can stop doing what he is doing, is stupid.

Is Guterres similarly cordial to Netanyahu?

Need to remember that the likes of Yanks who support the US "Deep State" hate Putin and try all sort of tactics to discredit him. They would have loved another Boris Yeltsin as leader of the Russian Federation to give themselves opportunities for plundering Russian resources and exploiting the people. However, under Putin's leadership, it has developed both economic and especially military strength to stop the US remaining sole world superpower. Especially curbing some bullying and self serving criminal activities against other sovereign nations. Attitudes of some people in positions of influence in the US seem to include that the United Nations should push its interests against others that oppose them. Also, that the US is "exceptional". Including that when they make agreements, other parties are expected to abide by these but it is acceptable for the US to be first to break them when it finds this expedient. Then note the effective US definition of "democracy" in other countries. This is when the leadership is largely obliging to US interests. Including tyrants installed due to US "regime change" efforts. Then effective definition of "dictator" is a leader who stands up for interests of his own people when opposed to what US interests want. Even if democratically elected. Putin in some ways may be a dictator but has consistently had one of the highest approval ratings from his own constituents of any national leader. Also, is obviously highly regarded by many people and their leaders in other countries. UN officials have good reasons to treat him with respect. Including lately in leadership role at BRICS Conference. Note that the US and other Western countries largely do not like it as main purpose is to facilitate economic co=operation between member countries without interference by Western interests. Is important for a United Nations leader to keep up to date on its activities.