In Spain, Lula defends international cooperation for solution to Ukraine war

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva carried out today (26) the last scheduled commitments of his first trip to Europe during this third term in office. Lula joined the prime minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez for a bilateral meeting at the Moncloa Palace – seat of the Spanish government – in Madrid. Next, the president attended a lunch hosted by King Felipe VI at the Royal Palace.

If the members who are responsible for directing world peace don’t ask for permission, why do the others have to obey? So I think it's time we started to change things. It's time for us to create a "G20 of peace", which should be the UN
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Three bilateral cooperation agreements were signed at Moncloa by representatives of organizations from both countries. After that, Lula and Sánchez held a news conference and made a joint statement on the issues that had been addressed at the meeting – such as the resumption of diplomatic relations between Brazil and Spain; environmental protection; and the Russia-Ukraine war.

"I've been saying that Brazil is back – and Brazil’s back because we miss the world, and the world misses Brazil. Brazil was isolated for practically six years. We had no relationship whatsoever with South America, Europe, Asia or Africa", said Lula. "And I’m here today to tell President Pedro Sánchez that Brazil is fully back on the world political stage".

STOP THE WAR — In his speech, the Brazilian also reiterated how important peace is for world growth, and that he is "troubled" by the war between Russia and Ukraine. To Lula, only negotiation between the parties, mediated and encouraged by a group of neutral nations, is capable of putting an end to the war – and this responsibility should be the UN Security Council's.

"When the United States invaded Iraq, there was no UN Security Council mandate. When France and England invaded Libya, there was no discussion. And now Russia, a permanent member, did not discuss anything either. Well, if the members who are responsible for directing world peace don't ask for permission, why do the others have to obey? So I think it's time we started to change things. It's time for us to create a 'G20 of peace', which should be the UN", he defended.

To Lula, Ukraine’s territorial integrity was violated by Russia – which Brazil condemns –, but what’s most important at the moment is to stop the war.

"There's no point in arguing who's right and who's wrong now. What we need is to make it stop. We can't discuss settling any scores before the shooting stops", he said. "We have to find a group of people willing to find a way to stop the war – only after that, when the war is over, will it be possible to sit around a table and establish what’s going to happen".

Pedro Sánchez thanked Lula and the Brazilian government for their willingness to resume an essential role in international negotiations towards a solution to the war.

"Brazil is asking us to work together for peace, to put an end to hostility whilst respecting the sovereignty of nations. I say to President Lula that the step forward taken by Brazil is very important. I appreciate President Lula's and Brazil's commitment and willingness, as the global leaders that they are, to face the various challenges that lie ahead", he said.

MERCOSUR-EUROPEAN UNION TRADE DEAL — Both leaders were optimistic about making progress on a trade deal between Mercosur and the European Union. Coincidentally, Brazil and Spain will occupy the semiannual presidencies of their respective economic blocs as of July – and this may help advance negotiations on the deal that has been under discussion for over 20 years.

"We may have a chance to close this deal when Spain occupies the European presidency. I have even said in Brazil that this is in our interest – because I was president for eight years and wasn’t able to close this deal", said the Brazilian president.

Sánchez, in turn, said he has a "commitment with President Lula" to speed up the deal. "I think the occasion will be appropriate; we're going to work to try to close this deal this year", he explained.

BILATERAL COOPERATION — During the meeting at Moncloa Palace, three cooperation agreements were signed by Brazil and Spain in the fields of Education, Labor and Science and Technology.

First, a memorandum of understanding was signed by the ministries of Labor and Employment of Brazil and of Labor and Social Economy of Spain, for cooperation in the field of labor. Spain’s labor reform is a model that the Brazilian government considers an example to improving relations.

Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and Finep signed a letter of intent with Spain’s Ministry of Science and Innovation and Center for Technological and Industrial Development (CDTI) to coordinate bilateral development, research and innovation projects between the two nations.

Lastly, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Brazil’s Ministry of Education and Spain’s Ministry of Universities for expanded cooperation between both countries’ university systems, to facilitate the mobility of students between Brazilian and Spanish universities.