“I spoke to President Biden about (…) the need to create a group of countries that are not directly or indirectly involved in Russia’s war against Ukraine so that we can find a way to make peace,” Lula told reporters who leave the office meeting at the White House.
“I am convinced that a way must be found to end this war,” Lula said, adding “no one wants the war to continue.”
He advocates forming “a group of negotiators who are trusted by both sides” because “the first thing is to end the war and then negotiate what happens in the future”, but “you have to stop shooting, otherwise there will be no solution”. .
The Brazilian President has already discussed the advisability of setting up this negotiating group with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and has announced that he will be discussing this with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in March.
His country, like other emerging countries such as India or South Africa and some Latin American countries such as Argentina, Colombia or Mexico, is reluctant to supply arms to Ukraine.
On the contrary, the United States is leading Western initiatives in support of Kiev, believing it needs diplomatic assistance, weapons and military training to fight against Russia, which has invaded its territory.
© 2023 AFP