Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has reaffirmed his stance that countries should push for peace talks to resolve the war in Ukraine after coming under harsh criticism from the US for his position.
During a recent visit to China, Lula said the US should stop “encouraging” the war in Ukraine and “start talking about peace.” The White House slammed the Brazilian leader in response, accusing him of “parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda.”
In Portugal on Saturday, Lula again called for peace talks. “We are not in favor of war. We want peace,” he said at a press conference with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. “Russia does not want to stop, and Ukraine does not want to stop. And if you don’t talk about peace, you are contributing to war.”
Lula said he understood the position of European countries that want to keep arming Ukraine and said he was trying to convey Brazil’s position. “Brazil does not want to participate in the war, Brazil wants to find a group of people who are willing to spend a little time talking with all the people who are willing to make peace,” he said.
The US and most of its European allies have discouraged peace talks throughout the war. Most recently, the US came out against China’s potential role as a mediator between the warring sides. Ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s trip to Moscow in March, the White House said it opposed a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Source: AntiWar.
