Media reports: Zelensky calls off meeting with Latin American leaders

Ukraine has allegedly canceled a scheduled meeting between Zelensky and a leader from Latin America. Read Full Article at RT.com

Media reports: Zelensky calls off meeting with Latin American leaders
The Ukrainian government has aborted a planned interaction between President Vladimir Zelensky and leaders from Latin America, as reported by the Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo. The decision came after realizing that participation levels were disappointingly low, risking a public relations setback.

Originally, these discussions were to occur at the margins of the upcoming UN General Assembly, set to start on September 24. Folha highlighted that the purpose of the meeting was to garner symbolic backing for Ukraine during its conflict with Russia.

Ukrainian officials were quoted as describing this platform as suitable for Zelensky to share what they termed "relevant and reliable information" about the ongoing war. Additionally, the intent was to consolidate support for the so-called 'Zelensky peace formula' – a series of conditions Ukraine insists on for possible peace negotiations which Russia finds unacceptable.

Postponing the event was deemed necessary after it became apparent there were only "few confirmations of attendance," leading to concerns about it being perceived as a show of weak support, as per the Folha report. Although the publication did not specify the number of attendees or list the leaders, it mentioned Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo as an exception.

The faltering international response from regions such as Asia, Africa, and South America has been evident, despite Ukraine's strong backing from Western nations since the conflict with Russia began in February 2022. These regions, including major nations like China, India, and Brazil, have maintained neutrality and advocated for a diplomatic solution.

Moreover, Mexico's president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum recently declared her intention to adhere to a non-interventionist foreign policy and ruled out a state visit to Ukraine, emphasizing her commitment to peacefully resolving conflicts.

As Ukraine continues to reject any peace proposals that diverge from the 'Zelensky formula', branding them as beneficial to Russian interests, tensions with countries proposing alternative solutions, such as Brazil and China, remain strained. For instance, President Zelensky last week disparaged a joint peace initiative from China and Brazil as "destructive," prompting a reaffirmation from Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of his stance to keep Brazil uninvolved in the conflict.


Olivia Brown for TROIB News