Moscow’s European and Latin American allies have aligned in their efforts to resolve the war started by Russia. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, known for its pro-Russian stance, presented a “peace initiative” in the Bundestag but was met with rejection and criticism as “nonsense.” The proposal calls for the EU and its member states to gradually withdraw troops in exchange for the gradual lifting of sanctions and arms supplies to Ukraine, with the condition that Ukraine should not join the EU or NATO.
Meanwhile, the presidents of Argentina and Colombia, Alberto Fernandez and Gustavo Petro, released a joint statement in Le Monde newspaper advocating for increased diplomatic measures to attain a ceasefire in Ukraine, with little mention of Russia’s role in the conflict. The statement was published concurrently with Brazilian President Lula da Silva’s visit to the US, where he offered a pro-Kremlin “peace plan” that excluded Ukraine. The US State Department promptly dismissed the proposal, emphasizing that peace talks cannot occur without Ukraine’s involvement.
In addition, a statement by Putin’s long-time friend Silvio Berlusconi surfaced over the weekend. In his opinion, Ukraine may enter into negotiations with Moscow if it stops supplying weapons, supporting only “offers regarding assistance in reconstruction”. He also called the Ukrainian president a “gentleman” who must be stopped by the United States.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni responded by expressing her government’s support for Ukraine after Berlusconi’s scandalous statement.
