Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Sunday he had discussed in Abu Dhabi joint mediation for Russia's war in Ukraine with China and the United Arab Emirates, accusing the United States and Europe of prolonging the conflict.
The President, who was wrapping up an official visit to China and the UAE, said the two countries and others should join a "political G20" to try to end the war.
He also remarked that the war was caused "by decisions made by two countries".
Russian "President (Vladimir) Putin doesn't take any initiatives to stop the war. President Volodymyr Zelensky from Ukraine doesn't take any initiatives to stop the war," Lula, speaking through an official translator, told reporters in Abu Dhabi.
"Europe and the US continue to give their way of contribution to continue the war. So, they have to sit around the table and say, 'That's enough'."
While in China, Lula accused Washington of "encouraging" the war.
Lula said he spoke to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, about forming a group of countries to mediate.
"The G20 was formed to bail out the (world) economy that was in crisis," Lula said.
"Now it's important to create another kind of G20 to end this war and establish peace. This is my intent and I think that we'll manage to have great success.
“I talked to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed about the war. I talked to Xi Jinping about the war. And I think that we're meeting a set of people that prefer to talk about peace than war. And so, I think we're going to have success."
Lula said he had already discussed his initiative with US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and the leaders of some South American countries.
Lula returned to power in January after serving two terms from 2003 to 2010.
The UAE is Brazil's second-largest trading partner in the Middle East.
The total non-oil foreign trade between the countries exceeded $4 billion last year, marking an annual increase of 32 percent.
The Presidents of the UAE and Brazil discussed key areas: trade, technology, defense, aviation, and food security.
Earlier, Brazil and the UAE announced a series of deals, including an investment of up to $2.5 billion for a biodiesel project by the UAE-controlled Mataripe refinery in Brazil.
The UAE will host the COP28 UN climate talks later this year, and Brazil is a candidate to host the 2025 edition.
The UAE announced that the President of the UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Brazil’s President signed a number of MoUs and a joint statement.
Among the MoUs signed were a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation between the Rio Branco Institute and the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy for Diplomatic Training, and an MoU between the governments of both countries on Climate Action.
They also signed a Brazil-UAE Joint Statement on Enhanced Multilateral Ambition and Action on Climate Change.
