Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Ambassador to the United Nations, met with Brazil’s Foreign Minister and President Lula’s wife to discuss the situation in Ukraine and its fight against “abusive” Russia. In a talk at the University of Brasilia, the US official discussed the difficulties Ukraine faces in defending democracy against an abuser that invades countries, seizes their territory, kills their people, and rapes their women. Thomas-Greenfield expressed concern about comments by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who partially blames the West for the war in Ukraine.
On a visit to China last month, Lula claimed that the United States was “fueling the war” by sending billions of dollars in arms to Ukraine, drawing condemnation from the White House. The US ambassador raised the Ukraine issue with Brazil’s foreign minister and expressed her disappointment at the statements made. Thomas-Greenfield pointed out that Brazil voted at the United Nations to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, unlike other developing countries that prefer to remain neutral.
The US official called on Brazil to strengthen its support for Ukraine and to commit to finding a solution to the war with a commitment to support Ukraine. Thomas-Greenfield expressed support for Lula’s plan to send his trusted envoy, Celso Amorim, to Ukraine and expressed concern about which abuser might be next if no action is taken against Russia. Brazil has not yet joined the sanctions against Russia, but Lula made it clear that he condemns the Russian invasion and calls for negotiations to end the conflict.