The Brazilian president and his Ukrainian counterpart met on Wednesday, with Lula da Silva “stressing the importance of the paths to peacebuilding” and Volodymyr Zelensky referring to the “frank and constructive conversation”.
After the meeting, which started around 4 p.m. at the hotel where the Brazilian president is staying during his stay in the North American city to participate in the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the two heads of state released brief notes on your social networks.
“Today I met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in New York. TWe had a good conversation about the importance of paths to peacebuilding and always maintaining an open dialogue between our countries,” Lula da Silva wrote.in the note, accompanied by a photo of the two.
Today I met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in New York. We had a good conversation about the importance of paths to peacebuilding and always maintaining an open dialogue between our countries.
@ricardostuckert pic.twitter.com/GESsasLlVz
– Lula (@LulaOficial) September 20, 2023
On the other hand, Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that they both had “a frank and constructive conversation.”
“Diplomatic teams have been tasked to work on the next steps in bilateral relations and efforts to restore peace. The Brazilian representative will continue to work in meetings on the Peace Formula,” he added.
Important meeting with @LulaOficial.
Following our frank and constructive conversation, we tasked our diplomatic teams to work on the next steps in our bilateral relations and peace efforts.
The Brazilian representative will continue to participate in the Peace Formula meetings. pic.twitter.com/kC7f6MF0FZ
– Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 20, 2023
It is important to know what you can do @LulaOficial.
The device is turned on. Make sure you reach a higher level and you can earn your money. The device is not good.
The device can be brought into the correct position… pic.twitter.com/gKOtYbvqVi
– Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 20, 2023
The meeting between Lula da Silva and Volodymyr Zelensky, which took place after the meeting that the Brazilian leader had with North American President Joe Biden, was also attended by the Chief of Staff of the Ukrainian Presidency, Andrii Iermak, the Minister of Affairs. Foreigners, Dmytro Kuleba, foreign policy advisor and military affairs advisor for Ukraine, the Brazilian press said.
Lula da Sila’s delegation included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, the Minister of Social Communications, Paulo Pimenta, and the Presidency’s Special Adviser on International Affairs, Celso Amorim.
This was the first time that Lula da Sila and Volodymyr Zelensky had a bilateral meeting, after the May meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit fell through, with Volodymyr Zelensky stating that “there were no steps” for part of Lula da Silva.
On the other hand, the Brazilian head of state stated that he was “upset” after the Ukrainian delegation postponed the meeting until it ultimately did not show up.
Despite his condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24 last year, the Brazilian president had already recognized in April the transfer of Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014, as a way out of the conflict. called again for a negotiated peace and an abandonment of an “outdated Cold War mentality.”
Lula even said that “if one doesn’t want to, two don’t fight”.
The now confirmed meeting between the heads of state of Brazil and Ukraine takes place at a time of difficult relations between the two countries, due to statements made by Lula da Silva in connection with the war between Russia and Ukraine, the last of which was on the statement that he would not arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin under a decision of the International Criminal Court if he came to Brazil.
The Brazilian president walked back his statements, saying such a decision would be a matter for Brazilian justice, but insisted the country would review its presence at the International Criminal Court.
Putin is the target of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued in March on suspicion of war crimes for the deportation of Ukrainian children.
“I really want to study this issue of this ICC because the United States has not signed it and Russia has not signed it. So I want to know why Brazil is a signatory of a court that the US is a signatory to. Do not accept. Why are we inferior and should we accept one thing?” said Lula da Silva in India while attending the G20 summit last week.
Days earlier, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky reminded his Brazilian counterpart that Ukrainians are victims of the Russian invasion and that “the war is not happening in Brazil,” rejecting territorial concessions and asking for respect for independent states.
“The war is taking place specifically in Ukraine, the victims are specifically Ukrainians. They are not Brazilians, or other Europeans, nor Americans. Specifically, it is tens of thousands of people, hundreds of thousands, who died or were injured, it is our houses that were attacked or bombed, not the houses in Brazil or other countries,” Zelensky said in an interview with RTP.
Source: DN
