Lula to drop criticism of West over Ukraine in Europe visit

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is expected to avoid criticism of the U.S. and European role in the Ukraine war when he visits Portugal this weekend, two Brazilian officials told Reuters on Thursday.
Lula angered many in the West last weekend when he called for the United States and European allies to stop supplying arms to Ukraine saying they were prolonging the war begun a year ago when Russia invaded.
He made the comments to reporters on Sunday in Abu Dhabi on his way back from visiting China, where he discussed the war with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The remarks brought a strong retort from Washington, where a White House spokesman accused Lula of “parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda.”
The officials, based in Brasilia, admitted that his comments generated “unnecessary noise” and told Reuters they undermined Brazil’s neutrality and credibility as a broker of peace talks that Lula has proposed by gathering countries not involved in the conflict.
The two officials said Lula will change his message on visits to Portugal and Spain and avoid criticizing the Western allies.