Ukraine’s Zelenskiy Dismisses ‘Destructive’ China-Brazil Peace Initiative

Zelenskiy Critiques China-Brazil Peace Initiative as "Destructive"

KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has dismissed a peace initiative proposed by China and Brazil regarding the conflict in Ukraine, labeling it as "destructive." He expressed frustration over Ukraine’s exclusion from the discussions surrounding the initiative.

In May, China and Brazil suggested hosting an international peace conference that would involve equal participation from both Russia and Ukraine, along with a fair dialogue on various peace proposals.

Zelenskiy criticized the proposal in an interview, saying, "The Chinese-Brazilian proposal is … destructive, it’s just a political statement. How can you offer ‘here is our initiative’ without asking anything from us?"

He emphasized that the initiative does not respect Ukraine’s sovereignty or territorial integrity, and noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin needs to take significant steps to demonstrate a genuine desire to end the conflict.

Despite his criticisms, Zelenskiy mentioned his willingness to discuss the proposals with both China and Brazil. Reports indicate that China has been working to garner support from developing nations for its six-point initiative introduced before a summit led by Ukraine.

Putin has previously expressed his backing for Chinese peace proposals and suggested that China and Brazil, along with India, could act as mediators in future peace negotiations regarding Ukraine.

Earlier in the conflict, a 12-point plan from Beijing was met with a muted response in Ukraine, while the United States accused China of adopting a peacemaker role that aligns with Russia’s narratives and lacking condemnation of the invasion.

Zelenskiy’s own conditions for peace include the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine, the restoration of the country’s 1991 borders, and holding Russia accountable for its actions.

He also expressed concerns about Brazil’s stance, labeling its government as "more pro-Russian" and reminded that any affection from Russia is fleeting, in contrast to its consistent disregard for the rule of law.