Lula talks with Zelensky about war in Ukraine

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke this Thursday (2nd), via video call, with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky. Information about the conversation was released by Lula in a post on social networks.

The Eastern European country has suffered, for just over a year, from a Russian military invasion, in a war that counts thousands of dead and millions of refugees. Faced with Ukraine’s refusal to install NATO military bases (the military treaty of developed countries) on the borders with Russia, it ended up expanding into a territorial annexation of strategic areas in eastern Ukraine. European countries, under the leadership of the USA, started to support Zelensky and enlarged and prolonged the dimension of the war, instead of stimulating the dialogue for peace.

“I had a video meeting just now with the President of Ukraine Zelensky. I reaffirmed Brazil’s desire to talk with other countries and participate in any initiative related to building peace and dialogue. War cannot interest anyone”, wrote the Brazilian leader. Lula, since the election period, has been emphasizing his willingness to contribute to a dialogue for peace, in the face of the economic chaos created by the war all over the world.

Lula has proposed to other foreign leaders the creation of a group of neutral countries that would engage in mediation to end the war in Ukraine. The theme was part of the conversation between the Brazilian president and the president of the United States, Joe Biden, in February, and should be on the agenda of the bilateral meeting that Lula will have this month with the president of China, Xi Jinping, in Beijing.

Last week, the deputy minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Mikhail Galuzin, stated that the Kremlin is studying Lula’s proposal.

Also on a social network, Zelensky commented on the conversation he had with Lula.

“I had a telephone conversation with the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Thank you for supporting our UN resolution. We underscore the importance of upholding the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity of States. We also discussed diplomatic efforts to bring peace back to Ukraine and the world,” wrote the Ukrainian president.

Last week, Zelensky said he invited Lula to visit his country and meet in person. In this Thursday’s conversation, Zelensky reinforced the invitation, which is how the Ukrainian has used the image of international leaders in her favor. Lula did not reject it, but signaled that this would not be the priority at this moment and that opportunities will not be lacking.

Lula has affirmed Brazil’s neutrality and pacifism in relation to the war in Eastern Europe. For him, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a “big mistake”, but “when one doesn’t want to, two don’t fight”. Specialists in foreign policy assess that the firm and, at the same time, conciliatory position gives Brazil the diplomatic conditions to lead the process.

Last week, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution calling for the “immediate withdrawal” of Russian troops from Ukraine and condemning the invasion of the country. The document also had a Brazilian contribution, which included an excerpt calling for the “cessation of hostilities”.

According to a column by journalist Jamil Chad (UOL), the Ukrainian insists on the possibility that Lula embarks on the ten-point plan made by Kiev for a negotiation. Diplomats believe that Zelensky’s hope is that Brazil, when looking for ways to create conditions for a peace agreement, will consider the Ukrainian plan as a basis. The problem is that the points are rejected in advance by Vladimir Putin, for treating Russia as a loser in the process.

The Brazilian, cautious about Zelensky’s project, replied that the Brazilian government is still evaluating the proposals. But he pointed out that there is no solution to a war that does not contemplate the interests of both sides of the conflict and that unilateral plans would not have a chance of succeeding.

The Kiev plan calls for the release of all prisoners and deportees to Russia, the restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine and its borders, the withdrawal of Russian troops, the creation of a special court to prosecute Russian war crimes, among others. other items.