Brazil declines to sign summit declaration supporting peace in Ukraine

The Peace Summit in Ukraine recently concluded with a joint declaration calling for the safety of nuclear and maritime transit. Around 60 world leaders and representatives of 90 governments attended the summit hosted by Switzerland. However, Brazil, along with 12 other developing countries and Russia’s partners, refused to sign the document. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva intentionally chose not to participate in the meeting, stating that it did not involve the two conflicting parties.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was not invited to the summit, which led Lula to decline the invitations from the Swiss president and instead send the Brazilian ambassador as a representative. India, South Africa, Mexico, and several other countries also refused to sign the document, while 80 nations including most EU countries, the US, Japan, Argentina, Chile, and Ecuador did.

The summit’s main focus was Ukraine’s territorial integrity in the face of the Russian invasion, emphasizing the need for safety at nuclear power plants and atomic facilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the participating delegations for supporting the security of the Zaporizhzhia plant and ensuring safe navigation and food flow. The document also calls for cooperation from Russia to facilitate the exchange of prisoners of war and the return of children.