(Reuters) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday questioned the “real interest” of Brazil and China in ending the war between his country and Russia, telling the United Nations (UN) General Assembly that the countries “will not boost their power at the expense of Ukraine”.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Nine months later, Zelenskiy announced a 10-point peace plan to end the conflict on the basis of the UN Charter and international law. Moscow rejected the plan.
“The peace formula has been around for two years, and maybe someone wants a Nobel Prize for their political biography, for a frozen truce, instead of real peace, but the only prizes Putin will give you in return are more suffering and disasters,” Zelenskiy told the 193-member organization, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“When some propose alternatives, half-hearted settlement plans, so-called sets of principles, this not only ignores the interests and suffering of Ukrainians… it not only ignores reality, but also gives Putin the political space to continue the war.”
China and Brazil have been trying to convince other developing countries to join the six-point peace plan (all points in favor of Russia) that the two countries presented in May.
The proposal calls for an international peace conference “held at an appropriate time, recognized by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation of all relevant parties, and a fair discussion of all peace plans.”
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defended the pro-Russia plan when he addressed the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
“When the Sino-Brazilian duo tries to turn itself into a chorus of voices – with someone in Europe, with someone in Africa – saying something alternative to a full and fair peace, the question arises: what is the real interest?” said Zelenskiy.
Lulatic¹’s delirious speeches at the UN
Questioned at a press conference on Wednesday about Zelenskiy’s speech, Lula said that the Ukrainian leader had only said the obvious within his duty as president, but that he was still failing to achieve peace, which he stressed was the only way to guarantee the survival of Ukraine and Russia.
“They don’t have to accept China and Brazil’s proposal, because they don’t have a proposal, they have a thesis that it’s important to start talking,” said Lula.
“He (Zelesnkiy), if he were smart, would say that the solution is diplomatic, not military. This depends on the ability to sit down and talk, to listen to the other side and try to reach an agreement, so that the Ukrainian people can have peace in their lives.”
The Ukrainian president intends to present a “victory plan” to US President Joe Biden during a visit to the White House on Thursday.
¹Lulatic an intriguing combination of Lula and lunatic