Luiz inácio Lula Da Silva Accuses US of ‘Encouraging War’ in Ukraine; White House Slams Brazilian President
The president of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, threw an accusation against the United States about the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war.
BBC News reported that Lula accused the United States of "encouraging" the Ukraine-Russia war after his visit to China during a weekend that the U.S. needed to start peace talks in Ukraine.
U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby accused the Brazilian president of echoing the propaganda pushed forward by Russia and China.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met Lula and thanked Brazil for its efforts during the Russian official's visit to Brazil.
Lula said that the United States "needs to stop encouraging war and start talking about peace." The Brazilian president has presented himself as a broker for peace talks to end the conflict.
Lavrov visited Brazil on Monday, saying that Russia was "grateful to our Brazilian friends" for having a clear understanding of the situation.
Meanwhile, Kirby said that Lula's comments were "simply misguided" by suggesting that the U.S. and Europe "are somehow not interested in peace" or that they have responsibility for the war.
Brazil Accuses U.S. of 'Encouraging' Ukraine-Russia War
Brazil has self-designated itself as an advocate for peace talks in Ukraine, with war killing and wounding as many as 22,209.
Lula has made controversial comments by saying that the Ukraine-Russia war was caused by "decisions made by two countries," as reported by Al Jazeera.
He also slammed the U.S. and Europe for their alleged contribution to the war by "supplying Ukraine with weapons."
Lula said that he hoped to create a group of countries that have "nothing to do with war, that don't want war" to spearhead the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded to Lula's statement, saying that the U.S. has no objection to any country that aims to end the Ukraine-Russia war.
Jean-Pierre went on to say that she is confident "in the strength of the U.S.-Brazil relationship."
The White House spokesperson said that Lula's statements were not "neutral and it is not true." She added that the U.S. will continue to respond against those comments.
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Ukraine-Russia War
Lavrov also praised a framework introduced by Brazil and China in an effort to end the conflict in Ukraine.
CNN noted that the "peace proposal" would see the Crimean Peninsula fully included in the Russian Federation.
Ukraine has repeatedly said that peace can be achieved once it gets back its borders from Russia's invasion.
Ukraine also wants to take back Crimea.
Meanwhile, a local Russian activist was arrested after he wrote that he didn't "feel a shadow of sadness" after a pro-war blogger, Vladlen Tatarsky, was killed in a bombing at an event in a St. Petersburg café this month.
In Ukraine, the head of Ukraine's president's office, Andriy Yermak, said that five Shahed drones have been downed in the Zaporizhzhia region.
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Mary Webber
WATCH: White House Was ‘Struck’ By President Lula’s Comments About US Being Responsible For War In Ukraine - from Forbes Breaking News