Zelenskyy accuses Brazil of being pro-Russia, slams peace proposal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Brazil of being pro-Russia in the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine and lambasted a joint peace proposal drawn up by Brasília and Beijing.

“The Chinese-Brazilian proposal is also destructive, it’s just a political statement,” Zelenskyy said during an interview with Brazilian news site Metrópoles on Wednesday evening.

Brazil and China signed a joint statement in May calling for peace talks involving both Russia and Ukraine. However, according to the Ukrainian president, the two countries consulted Moscow but not Kyiv.

“We are not stupid,” Zelenskyy said during the interview. “How can you offer ‘here is our initiative’ without asking anything from us?” He added, “This is a lack of respect toward Ukraine.”

Zelenskyy expressed doubt over Brazil’s efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the war, arguing that Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he described as a “murderer,” has no intention of ending the conflict.

When asked about Brazil’s position on the war, Zelenskyy said, “Unfortunately, I believe that they [the Brazilian government] are taking Russia’s side.”

“I had a good conversation with President Lula and I thought he understood me. I was grateful to meet him, and I was very open, absolutely open. I thought I would see in his experience an understanding of what is happening, and not just a political pacification,” he added.

Putin last week described Brazil, China and India as trusted partners who could act as intermediaries in possible negotiations with Ukraine.