Lula’s minister meets behind closed doors with Russian chancellor Sergey Lavrov

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Mauro Vieira, met behind closed doors this Tuesday (28), in New Delhi, India, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The meeting took place after Ukraine sought Brazilian support to join Latin America in efforts to reach a peace agreement that implies the total withdrawal of Russian troops from the invaded Ukrainian territory.

Last week, Brazil voted in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution that condemned the Russian invasion and demanded the immediate withdrawal of Kremlin troops from Ukraine. The action was interpreted by analysts as support for the United States and its European allies.

But, in a contradictory way, Itamaraty abstained from voting on two pro-Russian amendments that would mischaracterize the main resolution. The amendments were rejected, but this position by Brazil sounded like a pro-Russian act. The country played a supporting role in the discussion.

The meeting between Vieira and Lavrov takes place after the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, expressed interest in meeting with president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Ukrainian diplomats said in Brasilia last week that Lula should travel to war-torn Ukraine to understand what is at stake.

According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vieira and Lavrov would have stated in the conversation the desire to “further strengthen the entire range of Russian-Brazil strategic association relations”.

They also addressed the program of bilateral contacts at various levels and exchanged views on the interaction of the two countries in the UN and the United Nations Security Council, in the BRICS bloc (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and at the G20, among other multilateral platforms.

Lula had stated that “it is urgent” that “a group of countries” be formed to negotiate a peaceful way out of the conflict. However, the Brazilian president said he could resolve the war in a bar conversation with Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The episode highlighted the simplistic view of the Lula government on the conflict, according to analysts.

Currently, Brazil is dependent on Russian exports of fertilizers, essential inputs for the agribusiness sector.