Brazilian President: US should cease 'encouraging' the conflict in Ukraine

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Saturday that the United States and European Union should stop “encouraging” the war in Ukraine. He also revealed that during his talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping they discussed forming a group of like-minded leaders on Ukraine. The US and EU have been major suppliers of arms and aid to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out peace talks as long as Russian President Vladimir Putin remains in power. Lula was in Beijing on Friday for talks with Xi Jinping seeking a reset in the China-Brazil relationship, but it also revealed a growing distance from geopolitical questions preoccupying the West. His trip to China is instead largely focused on trade, how Chinese investment can help Brazil’s economy get back on track, and the potentially lucrative universe of carbon credits. Lula has adopted a policy of non-intervention over the war in Ukraine, rebuffing efforts led by US President Joe Biden to unite the global community in opposition to Russia’s invasion.