Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva proposed on Tuesday a plan aimed at facilitating discussions between Russia and Ukraine to resolve their ongoing conflict, a suggestion that has already been dismissed by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Lula, who has communicated with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding this proposal, did not elaborate on the specifics of the six-point plan during his address at the United Nations General Assembly.

According to Brazilian diplomats, Lula’s foreign policy adviser, Celso Amorim, will seek to garner support for the initiative from representatives of 20 nations during a meeting in New York on Friday.

Zelenskiy has characterized the proposal as “destructive” and has maintained that his own summit initiative represents the only feasible path to peace.

The Chinese-Brazilian proposal, which was unveiled in May following Amorim’s visit to Beijing, advocates for de-escalation and the resumption of direct dialogue without necessitating a withdrawal of Russian forces.

The upcoming meeting will involve countries from the Global South, excluding European nations that are the most fervent supporters of Ukraine. Invited participants include Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.

A Brazilian official informed Reuters, “The goal is to understand what these countries can contribute, build a critical mass, and reassess these points. Many nations, including Europeans, are eager to listen.”

In his address, Lula cautioned that the situation in Gaza is escalating “dangerously” into Lebanon, reinforcing the urgency for a ceasefire. He remarked, “The right to defend has morphed into a right to seek revenge, hindering efforts to negotiate the release of hostages and delaying a ceasefire.”

The Brazilian president reiterated his nation’s call for reform within the United Nations, asserting that the organization is failing to adequately represent global interests and to prevent conflicts.

He condemned the substantial annual expenditure on military capabilities, advocating instead for these resources to be redirected towards alleviating poverty and combating climate change.

Lula urged a reevaluation of the U.N. charter to enhance the General Assembly’s role in fostering peace and to reform the multilateral organization.

He stated, “The exclusion of Latin America and Africa from permanent positions on the U.N. Security Council is an unacceptable remnant of colonial history.”