Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Getty/ Horacio Villalobos
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva mentioned on Friday he had a cellphone name with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and reaffirmed his willingness to ascertain peace talks with either side of the battle in Ukraine.
The refusal got here simply days after a spat between Lula and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on the G7 summit in Japan, the place a deliberate assembly between the pair fell via.
Lula tweeted he had additionally thanked Putin for an invite to attend an financial discussion board in Saint Petersburg, however needed to decline it as he “cannot go to Russia in the mean time”.
“I reiterated Brazil’s willingness, together with India, Indonesia and China, to speak to either side of the battle in pursuit of peace,” the leftist chief added.
Lula has pitched himself as a peace dealer to finish the battle, which started when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
His proposal, based mostly on Brazil’s custom of non-intervention and neutrality, requires a bunch of countries not concerned within the battle to interact each Russia and Ukraine in talks.
After their proposed assembly fell via in Japan, Lula first mentioned he was “upset” earlier than then claiming that he didn’t see a degree in assembly Zelensky, saying neither he nor Putin appeared to need peace.
“For now, they’re each satisfied they will win the battle,” he mentioned.
Final 12 months, Lula got here below hearth for claiming that Zelensky was “as accountable” for the battle as Putin.
Extra reporting by AFP
