“Let’s create a group of countries that are not directly involved in the war between Ukraine and Russia, so that we can find a possibility to build peace,” said Lula while proposing a diplomatic solution.
He then took the idea to President Joe Biden during his recent visit to Washington D.C. The Brazilian president’s suggestion is to create a “peace club” with neutral countries in the conflict, such as India and China, which will attempt to mediate a solution to the conflict.
But what do the U.S. think of the plan? The Biden Administration did not say no, but hinted that the diplomatic approach should be a decision made by Ukraine.
The U.S. ambassador to Brazil, Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, wrote and published an op-ed in the Brazilian newspaper “Jornal O Globo” on February 23, 2023, explaining the U.S. position on the matter.
“February 24, 2023 marks one year since Russia launched its brutal and large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s legacy over these twelve months is clear: up to 15 million Ukrainians have been internally displaced or live as refugees outside the country, up to 10,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed, including hundreds of children, and tens of thousands more have been injured. Russia has separated thousands of Ukrainian children from their parents, and looted and destroyed cultural heritage, infrastructure, power plants, cities, and agriculture in Ukraine, devastating important food supplies for Europe, Africa, and other parts of the world. And the consequences of Russia’s unjustified aggression are far greater – causing a sharp increase in food insecurity among the world’s most vulnerable people.
12-18 million more people worldwide are facing food insecurity due to recent shocks in food, fuel, and fertilizer prices, and uncertainty surrounding grain exports for feed, oilseeds, vegetable oils, and wheat from the Black Sea region following Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. The World Food Programme estimates that the number of people experiencing acute food insecurity is at a record 349 million, up from 287 million in 2021, partly due to Russia’s choice to invade its neighbor.
It is almost impossible to analyze these numbers and not be horrified by Putin’s willingness to violate the UN Charter and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity enshrined therein. The next twelve months cannot be like the last. Russia’s forced attempt to subjugate its neighbor and redraw Ukraine’s borders by force is a clear and flagrant violation of the rules-based international order that has made the world safer and more prosperous for decades. One thing is clear: if Russia stops fighting and withdraws, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends.
Today is also a moment to applaud the spirit of Ukrainians in defending their country, their democracy, and their freedom, and to recognize the immense international response – in the United States, Europe, and around the world – to Russia’s aggression. We are inspired by a commitment to protect freedom, democratic values, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and global security. But we are also inspired by the remarkable courage and determination of the people of Ukraine, and we know that their struggle is part of something much larger. Ukrainians need and deserve our collective support, and also our best efforts to help them achieve a just and lasting peace. The economic measures imposed by the United States and its partners are specifically designed to promote accountability for Russia’s actions while mitigating their impact on other economies. Today, Russia is relying on countries like Iran and North Korea for support, while Ukraine is supported by more than 120 countries around the world, which have collectively provided over 600 billion reais in security, humanitarian, and economic assistance.
The United States and all of Ukraine’s friends are contributing to a wide range of efforts to defend democracy and help maintain Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity based on this principle: nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. Brazil is among the many countries that have opened their doors and welcomed Ukrainian refugees in this time of need. We welcome good faith efforts from partners to help bring the justice and peace that the Ukrainian people deserve, and to help restore security to the region and greater economic stability to the globe. As President Biden said, “this is about freedom. Freedom for Ukraine. Freedom everywhere.”