Brazilian President announced Zelensky’s absence from the meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ignored a meeting scheduled with him on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima.

“A bilateral meeting with Ukraine was scheduled in this hall. We waited and received information that they were delayed. In the meantime, I received the President of Vietnam. When the Vietnamese president left, Ukraine did not show up. Him [Владимира Зеленского] there was definitely another meeting,” the Brazilian leader said at a press conference in Hiroshima (quote according to RIA Novosti).

Lula da Silva specified that the talks were scheduled for May 21 at 15.15 local time (9.15 Moscow time). He added that he was not disappointed, but was upset because he wanted to meet with the Ukrainian president. “Zelensky is an adult and knows what he is doing,” concluded the President of Brazil.

Earlier, the Financial Times, citing an informed source claimedthat French President Emmanuel Macron persuaded Lulu da Silva to meet with Zelensky. Commenting on the failed negotiations, the Ukrainian president said that the president of Brazil should be disappointed in this situation.

At the same time, several unnamed Brazilian officials denied reports that the Brazilian president refused to negotiate with the Ukrainian leader. According to them, there was an overlay in the schedule. One of the interlocutors stated that Lula da Silva agreed to the meeting at the time requested by the Ukrainian side.