Brazil’s Lula Invites Putin to Peace Talks in Istanbul Amid Rising Tensions

Brazilian President Lula da Silva plans to visit Russia to urge President Vladimir Putin to join peace talks with Ukrainian President Zelensky in Istanbul. The Kremlin has not confirmed Putin’s attendance. This would be the first direct talks since 2022. Lula’s push, coupled with Ukraine’s encouragement, suggests a potential opening for dialogue amid ongoing conflict.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva aims to visit Russia soon in order to personally persuade President Vladimir Putin to participate in peace negotiations alongside Ukrainian President Volodyr Zelensky in Istanbul. This news was reported by Brazilian outlets on Wednesday. The Kremlin remains mum on whether Putin will attend the scheduled talks, which he himself proposed as a counter to Western-backed requests for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.

In an unexpected move, Zelensky has publicly challenged Putin to a face-to-face meeting in Istanbul. During his ongoing visit to China, Lula expressed his intentions to make a stop in Moscow while returning to Brazil to advocate directly for Putin’s involvement in the discussions. As Lula reportedly stated, “It costs me nothing to say, ‘Hey, comrade Putin, go to Istanbul and negotiate, come on.’” This illustrates his willingness to take an active role in fostering dialogue.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later indicated that he would provide updates regarding the potential meeting between Lula and Putin. The Brazilian leader was recently in Russia, where he attended the Victory Day parade and held discussions with Putin about expanding cooperation in areas like nuclear energy and defense.

On Tuesday, Ukraine’s foreign minister reached out to Lula, urging Brazil to leverage its influence in fostering dialogue with Russia. Coincidentally, Brazil and China jointly emphasized that direct negotiations are the sole path to ending the ongoing conflict. The Istanbul negotiations would mark the first time since 2022 that representatives from Russia and Ukraine have met directly, following the collapse of earlier attempts at peace.

Since December 2019, Putin and Zelensky have not met in person. According to a former senior Kremlin official cited by The Washington Post, Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yury Ushakov, along with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, are anticipated to represent Russia in Istanbul. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg are also expected to be present.

Zelensky has reached out to U.S. President Donald Trump, who is currently touring the Middle East, inviting him to the talks as well. Trump has indicated a possibility of attending the Istanbul talks on Thursday, contingent on its perceived utility.

Peskov confirmed that a Russian delegation would indeed attend, although he highlighted that the names of its members will not be disclosed until deemed necessary by the president. The developments ahead of Sunday’s talks are quite significant, not just for regional dynamics, but also for international diplomacy.

This situation evolves against the backdrop of The Moscow Times grappling with significant challenges as they face designation as an “undesirable” organization within Russia. This means that covering the events may lead to legal jeopardy for their journalists. Despite this, the outlet remains committed to providing crucial and independent journalism reflecting the realities of the situations on the ground.

In summary, President Lula of Brazil is taking proactive steps to encourage peace talks between President Putin and President Zelensky by visiting Moscow. The proposed Istanbul negotiations are crucial, being the first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine since 2022. Additionally, the ongoing challenges faced by The Moscow Times highlight the risks to independent journalism in Russia during these tense political times.

Original Source: www.themoscowtimes.com

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