China and Brazil issue joint statement on peace in Ukraine: Important nuance regarding Russia
China and Brazil issue joint statement on peace in Ukraine (Getty Images)
On May 23, the governments of Brazil and China released a joint statement addressing the resolution of the war between Russia and Ukraine, advocating for political negotiations to achieve peace. They specifically emphasized that the conference should only include Russia, citing CNN Brasil.
On May 23, Celso Amorim, the chief advisor to the President of Brazil, met in Beijing with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. According to the Brazilian government statement, they were seeking a policy solution to the so-called crisis in Ukraine and aiming to de-escalate the situation.
Among the agreements China and Brazil referred to is their mutual support for an international peace conference recognized by both Russia and Ukraine, with the equitable participation of all relevant parties and a fair discussion of all peace plans.
According to Amorim's press office, Brazil and China now need to engage friendly countries in organizing the meeting.
Other common agreements largely echo the positions Chinese diplomacy has defended in meetings involving its special representative for negotiations on the war in Ukraine. These include the rejection of the use of weapons of mass destruction and attacks on nuclear power plants.
Specifically, in their joint communiqué, Brazil and China believe that to de-escalate the conflict, three principles must be adhered to:
- No expansion of the battlefield;
- Prevention of escalation of hostilities;
- Avoidance of exacerbating the situation by any party.
Moving beyond the topic of the war, China and Brazil advocate against, as per the released document, "the division of the world into isolated political or economic blocs." This is part of the efforts by China and Brazil to prevent a new Cold War.
According to the statement, both countries call for mobilization to strengthen international cooperation in sectors such as energy, trade, and food security. They also stress the security of critical infrastructure, including pipelines and undersea optical cables, to protect the stability of global industrial and supply chains.
Backstory
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva decided not to participate in the peace summit on Ukraine, scheduled for June 15-16 in Switzerland.
This communiqué aligns well with China's so-called peace plan for Ukraine.
Additionally, China and Brazil are part of BRICS, which also includes Russia among its members. Last year, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin planned to attend the BRICS summit but ultimately withdrew, likely fearing arrest due to an ICC warrant in Pretoria (South Africa), where the event was held.
