Biden, Spain’s Sanchez to discuss Russia-Ukraine war at White House

U.S. President Joe Biden and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will discuss Ukraine, defense cooperation, and migration on Friday during a meeting at the White House in which the war between Moscow and Kyiv is likely to loom large.
While Madrid agrees with Washington on the illegality of Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Sanchez will convey the divergent views of China and Brazil and propose giving greater weight to the views of non-NATO nations hurt by the war.
The United States reacted skeptically to China’s 12-point peace plan, saying if Beijing were serious about its first point on respecting sovereignty it should urge Russia to withdraw.
Similarly, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva drew U.S. criticism for his suggesting the West had been “encouraging” war by arming Ukraine.
A White House official said China and Brazil could play a role in eventual peace talks, but stressed that an end to the war must respect the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.