Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stated on Monday he was “upset” he and Volodymyr Zelensky didn’t meet on the G-7 summit, including his Ukrainian counterpart appeared tired of negotiating peace with Russia.
Mr. Zelensky, who emerged from the summit in Hiroshima with contemporary diplomatic help and pledges of extra navy support, had sought a one-on-one assembly with Lula, who has confronted accusations of being gentle on Russia over its invasion.
Both leaders stated scheduling conflicts had prevented them from assembly — which Mr. Zelensky quipped had possible left his Brazilian counterpart “disappointed”.
“I wasn’t disappointed. I was upset, because I’d like to meet him and discuss the matter,” Lula informed a information convention earlier than heading house from Japan.
But “Zelensky is a grown-up. He knows what he’s doing,” he added.
Lula stated his workforce had scheduled a gathering with Mr. Zelensky for Sunday afternoon. But the Ukrainian chief ran late, and his personal agenda was full after that, he stated.
Mr. Zelensky obtained resounding help from G-7 leaders on the summit, together with long-sought U.S. backing for entry to F-16 fighter jets.
He additionally wooed non-G-7 international locations invited to the gathering, notably successful a pledge from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to do “whatever we can” to resolve the battle.
“I understand your pain,” Mr. Modi informed him.
There was no such present of help from Brazil.
Lula stated he didn’t see some extent in assembly Mr. Zelensky now, saying neither he nor Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to need peace.
“For now, they’re both convinced they’re going to win the war,” he stated.
Lula is pushing for peace talks and has proposed Brazil as a mediator, together with different “neutral” international locations, together with China and Indonesia.
But the veteran leftist confronted criticism final month when he accused the United States of “encouraging” the battle.
After the White House accused him of “parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda”, Lula toned down his rhetoric, saying Brazil condemned Russia’s invasion.
But he renewed his criticism on Monday.
U.S. President Joe Biden, he stated, is sending the message that “Putin has to surrender and pay for everything he wrecked”.
“That message isn’t helping,” he stated.
Source: www.thehindu.com