ÉVIAN-LES-BAINS, FRANCE — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has accepted a proposal by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to help advance diplomatic efforts aimed at seeking a peace settlement in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, a senior Ukrainian presidential adviser said on Friday.
The agreement followed a meeting between Zelenskiy and Lula on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in the French resort town of Évian-les-Bains on June 17, according to statements from both governments. The leaders discussed possible avenues for reviving diplomatic contacts after previous mediation efforts failed to produce a breakthrough.
Dmytro Lytvyn, a communications adviser to the Ukrainian presidency, said Lula presented several ideas during the talks, including the use of his contacts with the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. “They agreed that, in particular, based on such ideas and contacts, they would try to achieve something and later they would discuss it based on the results,” Lytvyn told reporters.
Lula said after the meeting that he had discussed the conflict, prospects for a ceasefire and diplomatic options with Zelenskiy. According to Brazil’s government news agency, the Brazilian leader argued that the U.N. Security Council should play a more active role in efforts to end the conflict, which has continued for more than four years. He also said the two leaders agreed to remain in contact in the coming weeks.
Zelenskiy described the meeting as positive and said the discussion focused primarily on ways to end what he called Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. He said Lula shared his views on potential diplomatic approaches, while the Ukrainian side outlined its assessment of Russia’s position and Kyiv’s ongoing engagement with the United States and other partners.
The development comes as diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict face significant challenges. A U.S.-backed mediation initiative earlier this year stalled amid disagreements over conditions for negotiations, including Russian demands that Ukraine has rejected, according to Ukrainian officials.
Russia had not publicly responded to Lula’s latest initiative as of Monday. Details of any specific framework, timeline or proposed negotiations remain unclear.
Ukrainian and Brazilian officials said contacts would continue following the G7 meeting, with Lula indicating he intends to engage again with leaders of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council as part of the diplomatic effort.
