Lula says Brazil is “neutral” in Russia’s war with Ukraine

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) said on Thursday (1) that Brazil is part of a group of countries that want to remain neutral to build an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine.

He also stated that the goal of ending the conflict will only be achieved when both countries “make the decision that they want peace.”

“We are trying to formulate the opportunity to, when it suits the two presidents, put a peace proposal on the table that has to be agreed with both of them.”

“Nothing will happen until Ukraine and Russia decide that they want peace. Brazil, therefore, is part of a group of countries that want to remain neutral so that we can build the possibility of ending the war,” he said.

The speech is similar to the President’s statement in April that the “two countries decided to war”.

Lula’s comment was widely criticized and strongly demanded by the United States and European countries members of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) to retract it.

He changed his speech a few days later when he said he condemned the territorial violation of Ukraine.

Lula’s speech on Thursday was made to journalists after a meeting with Sauli Niinisto, President of Finland, which borders Russia.

Asked about Lula’s recent positions, Niinisto said that both heads of state agree that peace is the most important thing.

“In my opinion, any attempt to promote peace is valuable. Peace must be somehow guaranteed because war always leaves resentment.”

“To have a sustainable peace, we need the big countries to ensure that both [sides] respect whatever [the agreement states],” he argued.

Niinisto reiterated that his thought is that “Russia illegally attacked Ukraine.”

With information from Poder360

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