Kiev reportedly worried that low attendance would demonstrate a lack of support for its cause
According to the Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, the Ukrainian government canceled a planned meeting between Vladimir Zelensky and Latin American leaders due to concerns about it becoming a public relations disaster. The paper reported that few leaders confirmed their attendance.
Initially, Kiev intended to host the talks on the sidelines of the upcoming UN General Assembly, scheduled for September 24. Folha stated that the meeting aimed to showcase symbolic support for Kiev’s position in its ongoing conflict with Moscow.
Ukrainian officials reportedly described the meeting as “an appropriate platform” for Zelensky to present what they referred to as “relevant and reliable information” about the conflict. Kiev also sought to garner support for the so-called Zelensky ‘peace formula,’ a set of demands put forward by Ukraine as prerequisites for potential peace talks. Moscow has consistently rejected these demands as unacceptable.
Folha reported that Kiev was forced to abandon its plans after receiving only “few confirmations of attendance,” concluding that it was “necessary to avoid a situation that could possibly be interpreted as a lack of support.” The paper did not disclose the precise number of confirmations or identify any leaders who allegedly committed to attending, except for Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo.
Since the outbreak of the armed conflict with Russia in February 2022, Ukraine has received steady support from the West but has struggled to secure significant backing elsewhere. Many Asian, African, and South American nations, including China, India, and Brazil, have chosen to remain neutral and have advocated for a diplomatic solution.
Recently, Mexico’s president-elect, Claudia Sheinbaum, informed journalists that her administration would pursue a policy of non-intervention on the world stage and had no plans to undertake a state visit to Ukraine. “Searching for the peaceful resolution of conflicts is the cornerstone of our foreign policy. This is our policy, and it won’t change,” she stated on Wednesday.
Kiev has dismissed any proposals that do not align with the ‘Zelensky formula’ as playing into Moscow’s hands. Last week, Zelensky rejected a six-point roadmap proposed by China and Brazil, labeling it “destructive.” Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva responded by reiterating that he would not allow his country to be drawn into the conflict.