Celso Amorim and the Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Melnyk.| Photo: Reproduction/Social networks.

The advisor to the presidency for international affairs, former Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Russia and Ukraine should consider concessions to reach a peace agreement. Amorim met with Zelensky this Wednesday (10) and with other Ukrainian authorities.

“It will not be easy to reach a confluence. It will be necessary for both sides to come to the conclusion that the cost of war is greater than the cost of certain concessions,” said the former foreign minister in an interview with the newspaper O Globo. Amorim said that he explained to the Ukrainian leader President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s (PT) plan to form a kind of peace club with other countries.

He went to Ukraine to try to contain the crisis caused by Lula’s statements. The Brazilian representative stated that Ukraine would be as guilty as Russia for the war. Lula also accused the United States and the European Union of fomenting the conflict. In February 2022, Russia, without being attacked, militarily invaded Ukraine and started the war.

“Of course, Zelensky has his positions, but I think that’s how we progress. Right now, there needs to be a group of countries that are working on the matter, discussing it with each other, so that Ukraine and Russia can talk,” said the former foreign minister. After the meeting with Amorim, the Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Melnyk, stated that “Brazil can play an important role in stopping Russian aggression and achieving a lasting and just peace”.