Brazil appeals to the United Nations

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has called on the United Nations to take the lead in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He suggested that the UN should take the lead by forming a group to find a solution to the problem.

Lula sought a leadership role for the UN during a visit to France after French President Emmanuel Macron said this week that Brazil has a "very important role" in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The second round of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine began in Istanbul this week, after the first round of Istanbul talks failed to end the conflict that has been going on for more than three years.

Calling UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres a "good man," Lula said at a press conference, "The UN can once again be the protagonist in resolving the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine."

President Lula said the UN chief should propose to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin that they form a "group of friendly powers", adding, "They will then talk to each other, listen to their realities, and then discuss options and move forward with peace efforts." He also said he wanted to propose the formation of a commission of countries not involved in the war to negotiate with Zelensky and Putin. "It is not possible for any party to get what it wants through war, but whatever is possible is only possible through dialogue. The outcome of the war is neither 100% in Zelensky's favor, nor is the atmosphere comfortable in Putin's favor," he said.

Unlike most European countries, President Lula has maintained friendly relations with Moscow and has also remained neutral towards Ukraine.

President Lula, who hosts the next BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro in July, said Putin had been invited to the meeting despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for illegally sending Ukrainian children to Russia. Russia on Saturday also accused Ukraine of postponing a large-scale swap of captured soldiers.