Brazilian President Lula conducts pseudo-pacifist rhetoric

The President of Brazil calls on the world to force Ukraine to “peace.”

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil, suggested on Sunday, April 16, that a group of nations not involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict be formed to mediate a settlement after discussing the idea with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping earlier in the week. 

In Abu Dhabi, where he had just returned from a journey through Asia, the president of Brazil told reporters that he was attempting to assemble a group of leaders that “prefer to talk about peace rather than war.”

He mentioned his recent meetings with Xi and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates.

Lula has earlier stated that the group should include states that are not “encouraging” conflict and that countries that are currently providing arms should be persuaded to quit doing so.

Lula’s statement is a great example of victim blaming

Since Russia invaded the neighboring nation more than a year ago, the United States and the European Union have been giving Ukraine arms and other forms of assistance. Brazil was asked to provide weaponry earlier this year by Germany, but Lula refused.

Lula reiterated that the decision to start the war was “made by two countries,” seemingly including Ukraine in the blame, and adding that it would be more difficult to cease since additional countries would need to be persuaded.

To convince people that peace is the best option to start a dialogue, Lula said, “We are trying to form a group of countries that have no involvement in the war to talk to Russia and Ukraine, as well as the US and EU.”

Earlier this year, Lula spoke over the phone with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine. Sergei Lavrov, the foreign minister of Russia, will be welcomed by his government in Brasilia on Monday.

His “effort” is a simple anti-US populism

He is performing a fine balancing act while also attempting to forge stronger connections with Washington. His visit follows a meeting with US President Joe Biden in February, which had an economic agenda in Shanghai and a more political one in Beijing.

China and Brazil, in contrast to Western nations, have not placed sanctions on Russia following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, and both are attempting to portray themselves as peace mediators.

Peacemakers are wrong. They are Chamberlain

Russia’s offensive was successfully repelled before the transfer of numerous weapons to Ukraine. 

Better armament means more successful short-term counterattacks than it does prolonging.

In reality, providing Ukraine with as much support as possible quickly will give us the best chance to limit the extent of the fight and avert it for many years to come.

Lack of weaponry and defense capabilities will result in war crimes and human losses in occupied territories rather than a ceasefire. When there are no weapons present and the Ukrainian army is forced to retreat, the Bucha Massacre occurs.

Armed occupation means no weapons. Currently, no international organization has the power to persuade Russia to confirm humanitarian corridors, cease deporting Ukrainian males, or prevent their illegitimate enlistment in the armies of both Russia and the self-declared “L/DPR”. They are unable to affect the fate of those who have been deported to Russia.

The reality that Putin isn’t currently looking for a productive agreement is ignored by Russia’s appeasers. Before a military halt, he wants at least the entire South and Donbas.

Photo: Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, and China’s President Xi Jinping attend a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, April 14, 2023. (Ricardo Stuckert/Handout via Reuters)