Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Brazil of being pro-Russia in the Kremlin’s war against his country and harshly criticized a joint peace proposal developed by Brasília and Beijing.
“The Sino-Brazilian proposal is also destructive; it is just a political statement,” Zelenskyy said during an interview with the Brazilian news site Metrópoles on Wednesday (12).
Brazil and China signed a joint declaration in May calling for peace negotiations involving Russia and Ukraine. However, according to the Ukrainian president, the two countries consulted Moscow but not Kyiv.
“We are not stupid,” Zelenskyy said during the interview. “How can you offer ‘here is our initiative’ without asking anything from us?” He added: “This is a lack of respect for Ukraine.”
Zelenskyy expressed doubts about Brazil’s efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the war, arguing that Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he described as a “murderer,” has no intention of ending the conflict.
When asked about Brazil’s position in the war, Zelenskyy said: “Unfortunately, I believe they [the Brazilian government] are on the side of Russia.”
“I had a good conversation with President Lula and thought he understood me. I was grateful to meet him, and I was very open, absolutely open. I thought I would see in his experience an understanding of what is happening, and not just a political pacification,” he added.
On the other hand, last week, Putin described Brazil, China, and India as reliable partners who could act as intermediaries in possible peace negotiations with Ukraine.
Speaking on a discussion panel at the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia in Vladivostok, Putin was asked which countries could potentially lead peace negotiations with Ukraine. “First of all, the People’s Republic of China, Brazil, India. I am in contact with my partners… we have trust and security with each other,” Putin said.
Later, he added: “If there is a desire from Ukraine to continue with the negotiations, I can do that.”
Source: Político