Lula renews support for China-backed Ukraine peace initiative at UN

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva renewed his support for a peace initiative he launched with China to end the war in Ukraine, according to the South China Morning Post. Lula made the remarks in his opening speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The report says he used the address to criticize US positions on tariffs, military pressure and access to critical minerals.

The Brazilian president also told the United States that his country was “no one’s backyard,” presenting Brazil as an independent actor in international affairs. The supplied material describes his criticism as indirect rather than a direct confrontation. Lula characterized the conflict between Russia and Ukraine as a humanitarian crisis that had continued for five years, although the supplied excerpt ends before providing the full quotation or further explanation.

The report says the speech came days before Brazilians were due to vote in a closely contested presidential race. It does not identify the candidates, provide polling information or explain how the election affected Lula’s foreign-policy message. The supplied material gives no response from the United States, China, Russia or Ukraine to Lula’s remarks.

It also does not outline the contents of the peace initiative or say whether it has won support from the parties to the war.