São Paulo, Brazil – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil met with Russian President Vladimir V. Putin in Moscow on Friday as part of a visit timed to coincide with commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the Allied and Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
The celebrations centered on the historic surrender of the Third Reich on May 8, 1945, when the German Wehrmacht signed its unconditional capitulation to both the Red Army and the Allied Expeditionary Forces, effectively ending the war in Europe.
Lula attended the annual military parade in Red Square alongside 27 other world leaders, including Nicolás Maduro, from Venezuela, and Xi Jinping from China. After the ceremony, he laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and joined President Putin for a formal luncheon at the Kremlin.
The visit resulted in the signing of bilateral agreements focused on trade and technological cooperation, particularly in the energy sector. Brazil relies on Russia for key imports such as fertilizers and diesel fuel—critical to its agricultural production—and in turn exports soybeans, beef, poultry, and tobacco to the Russian market.
“Brazil has political, commercial, cultural, scientific, and technological interests with Russia,” Lula told reporters. “And we believe that, at this historic moment, we can significantly deepen our trade ties. Our current trade volume is about $12.5 billion. It is quite unfavorable to Brazil, but we see great potential for growth, and that’s why we are here”, Lula said.
During his meeting with Putin, Lula criticized the trade tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald J. Trump, describing them as a blow to the principles of free trade and multilateral cooperation.
“The recent decisions announced by the President of the United States to impose unilateral trade tariffs on countries around the world undermine the very concept of free trade,” Lula said. “They erode the foundations of multilateralism and show a lack of respect for national sovereignty—something we must always uphold.”
Lula’s visit comes at a time of increasing geopolitical isolation for President Putin, more than three years into Russia’s war in Ukraine. In a recent interview, Lula told The New Yorker that he had spoken to Putin by phone in the weeks leading up to the visit.
“I called Putin and I said, ‘Putin, I think it’s time for you to return to politics. Put an end to this. The world needs politics, not war. You’re missed. There are not enough people to sit around the table and discuss the fate of the planet: What do we want for humanity?” Lula recalled.
Before departing for China, where he is scheduled to meet with President Xi Jinping, to discuss strengthening bilateral ties, responding to U.S. tariffs that have triggered a global trade war, and expanding economic cooperation, Lula addressed the war in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters, the Brazilian leader said he had discussed the prospects for peace with President Putin and used their meeting to urge the Russian leader to extend the cease-fire.
“We want peace. Peace is important for Russia, it’s important for Ukraine, it’s important for the United States, and it’s important for the European Union, which won’t have to spend money on weapons,” Lula said.
Featured image: Putin welcomes Lula in Russia (photo credit: Ricardo Stuckert / Presidency of Brazil via Flickr)
