Brazil and China have issued a joint statement advocating for peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, stressing the importance of involving both nations in the discussions. The statement, signed by Celso Amorim, special advisor to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, calls negotiation the only viable solution to the “Ukraine crisis.”
Key Points of the Joint Statement
Call for Peace Conference: The document supports an international peace conference at an appropriate time, recognized by both Russia and Ukraine. It emphasizes equal participation from all involved parties and fair discussion of all peace plans.
June Summit Participation: This initiative aligns with broader international efforts, as dozens of countries have committed to a summit in June, organized by Switzerland, to pave the way for a peace process in Ukraine. However, Russia has not been invited to this summit.
De-escalation Principles: Brazil and China stress the need for adherence to three principles to de-escalate the conflict: no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting, and no provocation by any party.
Rejection of Weapons of Mass Destruction: The joint statement firmly rejects the use of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. It calls for every possible effort to prevent nuclear proliferation and avoid a nuclear crisis.
Background and Context
The Russia-Ukraine conflict, ongoing since 2014 and escalating significantly in 2022, has seen numerous international calls for peace and negotiation. The recent joint statement by Brazil and China highlights the global desire for a peaceful resolution and underscores the potential for diplomatic intervention.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Chinese President Xi Jinping have both previously expressed their nations’ readiness to mediate the conflict. Their latest statement reinforces this position and calls on the international community to support efforts towards peace.
Broader Diplomatic Efforts
The June summit, which Brazil and China referenced, aims to gather international support for a peace process in Ukraine. While Russia’s exclusion from this summit raises questions about its potential effectiveness, the involvement of numerous other nations signals a significant collective effort towards resolving the conflict.
Moreover, Brazil and China’s emphasis on avoiding the use of weapons of mass destruction reflects growing global concerns about the conflict’s broader implications. Their call for preventing nuclear proliferation and avoiding a nuclear crisis resonates with the international community’s fears of a potential escalation into a wider and more destructive conflict.
The joint statement by Brazil and China represents a significant diplomatic push towards peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. By advocating for an inclusive peace conference and emphasizing principles to de-escalate the situation, both countries underscore the necessity of a negotiated resolution. Their firm stance against the use of weapons of mass destruction further highlights the urgent need for a peaceful and stable resolution to the conflict.
