Lula discusses peace efforts with Zelenski in a video call

The Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvahe told his Ukrainian counterpart on Thursday, Volodymyr Zelenski, which will encourage countries to join peace talks to end the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

“I reaffirmed Brazil’s desire to talk with other countries and participate in any initiative related to the construction of peace and dialogue. The war cannot interest anyone.” Lula said on Twitter after the video call with Zelenski.

Lula will discuss peace efforts with China when he visits Beijing next month, and also with Russia, his office said in a statement. Zelensky invited Lula to visit kyiv.

“We have talked about diplomatic efforts to restore peace to Ukraine and the world”Zelensky tweeted. And he also thanked Lula for Brazil’s vote in favor of the UN resolution last week calling for peace and demanding that Moscow withdraw its troops.

Lula said that Brazil supported the resolution because it defends the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

The left-wing Brazilian leader has called for the creation of a group of countries that can mediate a peaceful solution to the war.

Lula has refused to provide Ukraine with Brazil’s German-made artillery ammunition, insisting on the South American country’s longstanding policy of strict neutrality, though he has said Russia made a mistake in invading a sovereign nation.

During a trip to the United States last month, Lula called for a negotiated solution to the conflict, which would be achieved through the participation of more neutral global players.

On the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last week, Zelensky called for a summit with Latin American leaders and said he was willing to leave Ukraine to attend such a meeting.

In an interview with Time magazine last year, when he was still a presidential candidate, Lula claimed that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky himself were responsible for the conflict.

At that time, Lula said that Zelenski “I wanted war” and that, if not, “I would have negotiated a little more”although he reaffirmed that Russia “he was wrong” by invading your neighbor.

Source: Reuters