The President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvamet this Wednesday in Madrid with his counterpart from Spain, Pedro Sanchezto address different issues, especially the war in Ukraine and his vision to achieve peace.
During the meeting, both leaders expressed their common desire to put an end to the conflict, but revealed their differences on how to achieve it, according to a report by the Efe news agency.
?LIVE
President @sanchezcastejon appears together with the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, @LulaOficialbefore the media. https://t.co/eAzQOjPCWB
— The Moncloa (@desdelamoncloa) April 26, 2023
These “nuances”, as the Spanish president has called it, have been revealed in the appearance that both staged in the Moncloa Palace after their meeting with several of their ministers on the occasion of the visit to Spain of the Brazilian president.
The outlet recalls that Lula’s position regarding the war in Ukraine has received criticism, both from the European Union (EU)as well as the United States and the Ukrainian government headed by Vlodomir Zelensky.
They consider that the vision of the South American president puts the two parties in conflict on an equal footing, and they do not share the argument that the shipment of weapons to kyiv is fueling the problem.
In his speech, Lula clarified that his country condemned Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s rights from the beginning, but considered that “it is useless” to say who is right or wrong and that the important thing is to stop the war as only formula for dialogue.
Its objective, as it has insisted, is to achieve the union of a group of countries that are not part of the UN Security Council in what it calls the “G20 of peace” to try to achieve an end to the war.
Lula stated that he would “love” to see Spain in that group, although his counterpart did not comment on the matter.
According to Efe, the Brazilian president has avoided taking a position when asked if Crimea and the Donas region belong to Russia or Ukraine, but he did consider that the latter is an invaded nation.
In turn, he regretted that none of the parties is willing to give in, so in his opinion there is no interest in talking about peace at this time.
Lula has assured that he understands the European position as it is on this continent where the war is taking place. He has recognized that while some of his countries have a border with Russia, Brazil is “14,000 kilometers away,” the outlet said.
Spain points out difference with Lula’s vision
Meanwhile, Pedro Sánchez thanked Lula for his involvement in the search for peace in Ukraine and his interest in forming a group of countries that have that goal.
“Spain and Brazil want the same thing, peace, and for this peace to be lasting and fair it is important that we all get involved, that we accept the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter as respected, such as territorial integrity and an international order based on rules”, he added.
However, he acknowledged that in his vision of the problem there are differences “regarding some of the things that President Da Silva has said.”
In one part of his speech, he asked not to forget that in this war there is an aggressor, Russia, and an aggressor, the Ukrainian people, who have stressed that what they are doing is fighting for their national sovereignty and their freedom.
In addition, the Spanish president considered that in order to achieve peace it is essential that the voice of Ukraine be heard and that the peace proposal of its president be taken into account.
As part of his first official visit to the country since taking office for a new term, Lula also participated in a lunch offered by the King and Queen of Spain at the Royal Palace.
There King Felipe VI has defended the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine against the “unjustifiable” aggression from Russia as a basis for achieving a “lasting” peace.
“We value even more the traditional defense that Brazil has always made of peace”, stressed the head of the Spanish State.
“For this to be lasting, it must be based on respect for international law and its most valuable principles, those of national sovereignty and territorial integrity. For this reason, Spain has firmly and consistently rejected Russia’s unjustifiable aggression in all international forums,” added the king.
Efe/OnCuba
