This Friday (24) marks one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. And even after all this time, there are no signs that the war is close to ending. However, the Russian government is considering a ceasefire proposal made by none other than President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva.
The announcement was made on Thursday (23) by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin in an interview with the Russian state agency, Tass, as reported by the newspaper A Folha de São Paulo.
“We have heard the statements of the President of Brazil regarding the possibility of mediation to try to find political means to avoid an escalation in Ukraine, correcting miscalculations in the field of international security based on multilateralism, and considering the interests of all actors,” he stated.
“We are examining initiatives, mainly from the perspective of Brazil’s balanced policy and, of course, taking into account the situation on the ground,” he added, reminding that the Russians are partners of the Brazilians, Chinese, Indians, and South Africans in the diplomatic Brics group.
Lula’s Proposal
During his inauguration, Lula initially made the proposal to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He then brought it to President Joe Biden during his recent visit to Washington D.C. The Brazilian president’s idea 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.
Lula suggested: “to 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,” Lula said in Washington D.C. “I am convinced that we need to find a way out to end this war. And I felt the same concern from President Biden,” he added.
And what do the United States think about all this?
The Biden administration has repeatedly stated that it leaves the decision to open peace negotiations to Ukraine.
Pressed to comment on Lula’s statement about the war, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that, although the government “would like to see this war end today,” Russia’s attacks on civilian infrastructure seem to diminish that hope.
“We will have to remain focused on supporting Ukraine so that it can succeed on the battlefield, so that when President Zelensky determines it is time to negotiate and sit down at the table to resolve this diplomatically, he can do so,” Kirby said. “Therefore, it is up to President Zelensky to determine if and when negotiations are appropriate.”
This position was made very clear during Joe Biden’s surprise visit to Ukraine this week.
Will Lula be able to raise the white flag between the two countries?
Source: Folha de São Paulo and CNN