The unannounced attendance of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G-7 summit has unnerved the Brazilian delegation, which now feels pressure to accept an invitation for a face-to-face meeting with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, according to Brazilian officials.
Lula, who is also attending the Group of Seven summit in Japan as an invited guest, is still on the fence about a meeting with Zelenskyy, said the officials, who asked not to be identified discussing private information.
As opposed to G-7 countries, Brazil has taken a more neutral stance on the war in Ukraine, arguing at times that Zelenskyy, the U.S. and European countries shared blame for Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s invasion. Lula has softened his stance in recent weeks, however, toning down some comments and dispatching a top aide to Kyiv.
