China and Brazil support US-led Ukraine ceasefire initiative

China and Brazil have expressed support for a US-led initiative to negotiate a ceasefire in the ongoing war in Ukraine. They made this announcement after a meeting at the United Nations in New York. Both countries co-chaired the session, which gathered various nations interested in achieving peace in Ukraine. Brazil's UN ambassador, Sergio Danese, highlighted that recent events suggest a shift from fighting to potential negotiations. He called this a "potential turning point" towards a ceasefire. Fu Cong, China's ambassador to the UN, reiterated the need for a political solution through inclusive diplomacy. Several other countries participated in the meeting, including Algeria, Egypt, and South Africa. This initiative comes as pressure mounts from the United States for a negotiated end to the conflict, which has been ongoing for more than three years. There have been discussions about deploying peacekeepers from Brazil and China to help monitor a ceasefire. However, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman stated that Beijing prefers diplomatic mediation over military involvement. Previous talks in Saudi Arabia included US and Ukrainian officials exploring ways to end the war, with discussions on increasing European support for Ukraine. China and Brazil's proposal, introduced last year, suggested steps such as humanitarian aid and prisoner exchanges, but it was met with skepticism from Ukraine and its Western allies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the proposal, arguing it would benefit Russia. He expressed concerns over the idea lacking guarantees for Ukraine's territorial integrity, which is a primary issue for Kyiv in any negotiation.