Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said this Saturday from Beijing, after his state visit to China, that "it is necessary for the United States to stop encouraging war" in Ukraine and "start talking about peace."
"The US needs to stop encouraging war and start talking about peace. The European Union needs to start talking about peace so that we can convince" the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and Volodimir Zelensky, that "peace is in everyone's interest," Lula told reporters.
The president made these statements to the media after leaving the Beijing hotel where he has stayed and before embarking on Abu Dhabi, after completing his state visit to China, which included a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
Lula, 77 years old and in power since January 1, also asked "the countries that are supplying weapons" to the conflict to "stop" doing so and highlighted the "very important" role of China in seeking peace.
"China has a very important role, possibly the most important role. Now, another important role is the United States," he clarified.
The head of state once again defended his idea of creating a club of countries "willing to find a way to achieve peace", something that he has already conveyed to the presidents of France and the United States, Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden, as well as to the foreign minister German, Olaf Scholz.
However, his thesis has not aroused excessive interest on the part of the West. "Only those who are not defending the war can create a commission of countries and put an end to this war," said the leader of the Latin American left.
In his opinion, a situation has been reached "in which the two countries (through Russia and Ukraine) have difficulties making decisions" and, in this case, "it is necessary for third countries that maintain a good relationship with both" to generate peace conditions.
In this sense, he pointed out that Brazil and China are willing to do so, but insisted that "the goodwill" of all parties is essential.
In a joint written statement after their bilateral meeting, Lula and Xi Jinping agreed that dialogue and negotiation are the "only feasible way out of the 'crisis' in Ukraine."
In the document, Brazil, which since the war broke out has maintained a position of neutrality, stated that it "sees positively" the Chinese position regarding the conflict, which it considers "useful" to seek a peaceful solution.
