Zelenski accepted Lula's proposal on the margins of G7 to work for peace deal

Volontimir Zelenski accepted the proposal of Brazilian leader Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva to contribute to achieving a peace agreement on Russia's war in Ukraine, he today said adviser to the Ukrainian president.

Zelenski and Lula met on the fringe of the "Group of Seven" summit (G7) held at the French resort of Evian on Wednesday, where Ukrainian leaders called on the allies to increase pressure on Russia to end the war going on for over four years.

The two presidents discussed how diplomacy could be reactivated and Lula proposed various ideas, including contacts with permanent members of the UN Security Council, President Dmitro Litvin's communication advisor, told reporters.

Ukraine accepts promotion from Brazil's Lula to work for peace, Kyiv adviser says https://t.co/rRIIsEEVon— The Straits Times (@straits times) June 19, 2026

"They agreed that, specifically, based on these ideas and contacts, they would try to achieve something and then discuss it based on results," Litvin said.

In addition to the United States, France and Britain with which Ukraine maintains close diplomatic relations, the permanent members of the Security Council are Russia and China.

A mediation effort supported by the US earlier this year reached a dead end, as Russia insisted on further territorial concessions from Ukraine, which Kiev categorically denies.

Zelenski urged U.S. President Donald Trump to return to mediation efforts and intercede on organising a face-to-face meeting between him and Vladimir Putin, which the Russian leader has currently ruled out.

After the "Group of Seven" meeting, Lula said that in the past Zelenski had expressed no interest in his proposals in relation to diplomatic efforts to achieve peace, but now he accepted them.

Lula said during an interview He has already spoken to the leaders of the five permanent members of the Security Council and will do so again.

Ukraine recently launched an attempt to revive diplomacy aimed at ending the war, as peace talks under the auspices of the US had been led to a dead end due to the war in Iran.