German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s bid this week to rally support for Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion on his first South American tour fell through, with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reiterating his view that both sides are to blame shared.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Lula in Brasilia, Scholz said he was delighted with Brazil’s return to the world stage. But his face turned icy when his fellow leftist leader expressed his views on the war in Ukraine.
“I think Russia made the classic mistake of invading another country’s territory, so Russia is wrong,” Lula told reporters.
“But I still think when one doesn’t want to, two won’t fight. You have to want peace,” he said, adding that he had heard very little from either side about finding a peaceful end to the war.
Lula also said that Brazil would not supply Ukraine with ammunition for German-made Gepard anti-aircraft guns, as allegedly requested by Germany.
Brazil would work with other countries to help achieve peace in Ukraine as his country has not taken sides, he said.