PORTUGAL: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s president, received backlash for implying that Kyiv was partially to blame for the war. He stated in a speech in Lisbon that he wanted to “build a way to bring both of them (Russia and Ukraine) to the table” and that he would not “please anyone” with his opinions.
Lula had come under fire in the West for his statement on the recent Ukraine-Russia war, which started in February 2022. He later made it clear that he wants to build peace to resolve the conflict.
He argued last week that the arming of Ukraine by the US and its allies in Europe was prolonging the conflict and should be stopped.
Lula was charged with parroting Chinese and Russian propaganda and landed in Portugal to strengthen his international relations. He was joined at a news conference by the president of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who noted that both nations’ positions on the war were distinct.
Portugal is a founding member of NATO and has supplied Ukraine with military hardware. Rebelo de Sousa asserted that Ukraine had the right to self-defence and “recover” its territory, leading to a protest in front of the Brazilian consulate.
Lula attended a welcoming ceremony in front of the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon, but two Ukrainian supporters were denied access due to police officials’ claims that they had not asked permission to demonstrate.
Brazil and Portugal will sign agreements on technology, energy transition, tourism, and culture. Brazil has suggested Portugal could be an important ally in the Mercosur bloc’s effort to reach a free trade agreement with the European Union.
Lula took part in a welcoming ceremony in front of the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon on Saturday. Two Ukraine supporters were not allowed to approach the ceremony area due to police officials’ claims that they had not asked permission to demonstrate.
Agreements such as technology, the transition to clean energy, tourism, and culture will be signed between Brazil and Portugal, home to 300,000 Brazilians. Brazil has suggested that Portugal might be an “important ally” in the Mercosur bloc’s effort to reach a free trade agreement with the European Union.
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