**Brazil’s President Lula da Silva Pushes for Peace Talks Between Ukraine and Russia**
In a significant development, Brazilian President Lula da Silva has announced that he will ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey. This move comes as Russia rejects calls for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire backed by Europe, Ukraine, and the United States.
According to CNN, Russia invited Ukraine to direct talks in Istanbul after rejecting the call for a ceasefire. Zelensky has accepted the invitation and said he is ready to personally meet Putin on May 15. However, the Kremlin has not confirmed Putin’s participation, saying only that Russia will dispatch a delegation.
**Brazil’s Role in Facilitating Peace Talks**
During his visit to China, President Lula da Silva said he would try to persuade Putin to attend the talks with Zelensky during his trip to Moscow. He revealed that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had appealed to his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira, to ask Putin if he was willing to conclude a peace agreement.
In a significant moment, President Lula da Silva conveyed this request directly to Putin during a bilateral dinner in Moscow. “It was the first thing I said to Putin: ‘I have a message from Zelensky to see if you would accept a 30-day truce’,” he said. According to Lula, Putin responded positively to the possibility of discussing the issue.
**Russia’s Conditions for Peace**
The leaked 2022 peace draft proposal reveals that Russia has demanded significant concessions in exchange for peace. The proposal excludes Crimea from the treaty, leaving it under Russian occupation without Ukraine recognizing Russian sovereignty over it. The status of other Russian-occupied territories is to be decided in later talks between presidents Zelensky and Putin.
Russia also demands that Ukraine abandon its aspirations to join NATO or any other military alliance, but allows for EU entry. Additionally, Russia wants the lifting of all sanctions, repealing Kyiv’s laws related to language and national identity, and limiting Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
**A Breakthrough in Diplomatic Efforts?**
The potential meeting between Zelensky and Putin could signal a breakthrough in stalled diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s full-scale invasion. The last face-to-face meeting between the two leaders occurred in December 2019 in Paris under the Normandy Format. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, there have been no direct meetings between the two.
As Kateryna Hodunova, News Editor at the Kyiv Independent, points out, “The meeting between Zelensky and Putin, if it occurs, could signal a breakthrough in stalled diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s full-scale invasion.”
**Conclusion**
Brazil’s President Lula da Silva is taking a significant step by pushing for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. While the conditions set by Russia may be challenging to accept, this move comes at a critical moment when diplomacy seems to have reached a dead-end.
The potential meeting between Zelensky and Putin could bring new momentum to stalled diplomatic efforts. However, it remains to be seen whether Russia will follow through on its commitments and engage in genuine peace talks with Ukraine.
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