**Brazil’s President Lula da Silva Steps In to Broker Peace in Ukraine**
In a bid to bring an end to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has revealed that he personally asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend peace negotiations scheduled for this week in Istanbul, Turkey. The announcement was made during a press conference in Beijing, China.
Lula da Silva stated that when he visited Moscow earlier, he had conveyed a message from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Putin, asking if he would accept a 30-day truce. According to the Brazilian president, Putin responded positively, saying “I agree to discuss this.” This proposal for a ceasefire was originally made by Ukraine and its allies, including France, Germany, Great Britain, and Poland.
**A Path to Peace?**
The upcoming negotiations in Turkey on May 15 could be the first direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow since 2022. Putin had previously proposed resuming direct negotiations with Ukraine “without any preconditions.” However, Zelenskyy insisted that a “silence regime” must be established first.
Brazil supports dialogue and multilateralism as paths to peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Lula da Silva emphasized this point during his press conference, stating that Brazil would urge Putin to attend the negotiations and advocate for a ceasefire.
**International Support**
The United States has also made a proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting May 12. The international community is watching closely as these negotiations unfold.
However, there is still uncertainty about who will represent Russia at the peace talks in Turkey. While Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to name the Russian representatives, the Washington Post reported that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov may attend.
**What’s Next?**
As Lula da Silva prepares to personally urge Putin to attend the negotiations, the world waits with bated breath. Can these talks bring an end to the devastating war between Russia and Ukraine? Only time will tell.
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