Lula and Zelensky Meet in New York to Discuss War in Ukraine

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday (24/9) at the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting came after a period of tension between the two leaders. At the beginning of the year, Zelensky rejected calls from Lula after the Brazilian leader confirmed his presence at the 80th anniversary military parade of the victory in World War II in Moscow, Russia. The meeting was confirmed by sources in the Brazilian government. This is the second time Lula and Zelensky have met in person. The first meeting took place in 2023, also during the UN General Assembly. Other attempts to hold the meeting were unsuccessful. For example, at this year’s G7 Summit in Canada, the conversation was canceled due to ‘scheduling issues.’ The two heads of state do not have a good relationship. Zelensky accuses Lula of taking a pro-Russia stance in the conflict, including in the peace proposal formulated by Brazil and China. Brazilian diplomacy denies this and says it supports a negotiated solution that meets the needs of both parties in the war. Lula advocated for a ‘realistic solution’ to the conflict. The Brazilian President mentioned the war in Ukraine during his speech at the General Assembly yesterday (23) and argued that there is a greater chance for peace now. ‘In the conflict in Ukraine, we all know there won’t be a military solution. The recent meeting in Alaska has sparked hope for a negotiated way out. We need to pave the way for a realistic solution. This means taking into account the legitimate security concerns of all parties,’ stated Lula. The meeting in Alaska was between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump claims to be mediating a peaceful solution to end the war and has shifted from the previous US administration’s unconditional support for Ukraine, led by Joe Biden, by reducing arms shipments to the European country. Despite demonstrating increased closeness to Putin since taking office, Trump has changed his rhetoric in recent days and publicly stated that Ukraine can regain all the territory lost to Russia. Previously, the Republican had advocated for a partial cession of Ukrainian territories to Russia. The change even surprised Zelensky. Trump and the Ukrainian President also met in New York yesterday.