Ukrainian President, Volodimyr Zelenskysaid today that did not meet with his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in the framework of the G7 summit held in Hiroshima (Japan) “because there were no steps” by the Latin American president.
Zelensky made this statement at a press conference when asked by the media about the reason why he did not hold a bilateral meeting with Lula in Hiroshima, as he was one of the few leaders with whom he did not meet face to face on the margins of the summit of the Group of Seven and invited countries from the so-called “global south”.
“I was in contact with certain leaders, but there was no step on their part,” revealed the Ukrainian presidentwho also hinted that it could be about scheduling problems.
Zelensky continued his explanation by stressing the importance of “being united” to move forward with his peace formula, which he also presented at the G20 summit last year in Bali (Indonesia).
“In the past we worked very well and today we need to involve as many countries as possible,” said Zelensky, who also noted that he has spent “a lot of time” on these talks. “I meet with almost everyone in almost everywhere, although all the leaders have their own schedules and agendas,” stressed the Ukrainian president.
In recent months, Lula was in the center of the scene for his position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. His stance of not forcefully condemning the invasion by Putin’s troops earned him criticism from around the world.
In fact, he angered many Western leaders last April when he called for the United States and its European allies to stop supplying Ukraine with arms, saying they were prolonging the war, leading to a White House spokesman to accuse him of parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda.
And last year, in an interview with the magazine Time, had said that Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky was “as guilty as putin” from the war.
Zelensky met with all the others
The Ukrainian maintained an intense round of bilateral contacts since his arrival in Hiroshima. He even managed a meeting with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, who is closer to Moscow than Brazil.
Zelensky’s bilaterals – who sought more support in the form of weapons and other types of aid for Kiev at the summit, as well as support for his peace plan – also included the leaders of the United States, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia or South Korea.
At the press conference, the Ukrainian president wanted to convey the image of international support to resist the Russian offensive. “To those who want war, let them see how united we are,” he shot, in a clear message to President Vladimir Putin.
Keep reading:
Zelensky compared the devastation of Bakhmut to Hiroshima: “There is absolutely nothing alive, all the buildings are destroyed”
Why the Russian military has been so ineffective in Ukraine
Source-www.infobae.com