“I felt Zelensky was much more willing to talk than in previous meetings,” he said. “The same goes for Putin. Perhaps neither is ready to say what they can or cannot give up, but I think both already know the limits of negotiation.”
Lula stressed the importance of the UN taking charge, saying he wanted the organisation to regain its role and act as the spokesperson for all member states in the negotiations.
He recalled that he had urged Secretary General Antonio Guterres last year to form such a contact group but was told the UN chief lacked authorisation. “That proposal still stands, and I told Zelensky today,” he added.
The push comes amid shifting diplomatic winds. China and Brazil jointly endorsed a US-led ceasefire initiative at the Security Council in March, a rare alignment with Washington that underscored what Brazilian diplomats described as a “potential turning point”.
Beijing and Brasília had hosted meetings on the sidelines of the UN in the past to build support for their six-point plan, which included humanitarian access, prisoner exchanges and protection of civilians. While Russia signalled openness, Ukraine dismissed the effort as “destructive”.
