US accuses Brazil's Lula of 'parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda'

Nepal Views

Kathmandu: The United States of America (USA) has accused Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of imitating Russian and Chinese propaganda over Ukraine war.

US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that Lula is ‘parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda’. Kirby’s remark came after Lula accused the USA of ‘encouraging war’ in Ukraine.

During his visit to China, Lula said that USA is encouraging war in Ukraine, adding the US needed to start talking about peace in Ukraine.

Lula, who has pitched himself as a broker for peace talks to end the conflict, said over the weekend that ‘the United States needs to stop encouraging war and start talking about peace’.

Mr Kirby said Lula’s comments were ‘simply misguided’ and missed the mark by ‘suggesting the United States and Europe are somehow not interested in peace, or that we share responsibility for the war’.

In response to Kirby’s comment, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said, ‘I don’t know how or why he reached that conclusion, but I do not agree at all.’

Brazil has not joined Western countries in imposing sanctions on Russia and has refused requests to supply ammunition to Ukraine.

While Brazil is calling for peace talks, Ukraine and its allies say an immediate ceasefire would allow Russia to keep hold of territory it illegally obtained through force.

Earlier in February, China also proposed a peace plan for ongoing Ukraine war. But the western countries have hesitated to accept Chinese peace plan citing it does not explicitly call for Russia to leave Ukraine.