This is a manipulation. Russian outlets distorted Brazilian President Lula da Silva’s remarks about a general war fatigue, replacing them with a claim that Ukraine’s Western partners are tired of supporting it and therefore want the war to end as soon as possible.
Some social media users and Russian Telegram channels are claiming that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, following the G7 summit, stated that “Ukraine’s sponsors are already tired of supporting it” and that the West has for the first time expressed a desire to “put an end to the conflict in Ukraine.”
This is a manipulation. Lula did speak about “fatigue” with the war and the need for a diplomatic solution — but Russian channels stripped his remarks from the context and presented them as evidence that Ukraine’s Western partners no longer wish to support it. In reality, Lula was speaking not specifically about Ukraine or its partners, but about a broader war fatigue that, in his telling, extends to Putin’s supporters as well.
Following his meeting with Zelensky on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Évian on June 17, Lula told journalists it had been the “best conversation” he had ever had with the Ukrainian president. He said he sensed for the first time that Zelensky was genuinely seeking a solution and open to discussing a ceasefire. Brazilian media reported his remarks that “everyone is tired”: those who support Ukraine, those who support Putin, and those providing financing — which is why, in his view, everyone wants it to stop.
This phrase became the basis for the manipulation. Russian channels excised Lula’s reference to “Putin’s supporters” and the broader context of his remarks, then repackaged his words as if the Brazilian president had spoken exclusively about Ukraine’s “sponsors” being exhausted — and that this was the reason the West is allegedly seeking negotiations. In the original statement, however, Lula was speaking about the need for diplomatic efforts and the role of the UN Security Council’s permanent members, not about curtailing assistance to Ukraine.
Lula’s official readout of his meeting with Zelensky contains no suggestion that Ukraine’s partners are tired of supporting it. He stated that he listened to Zelensky’s assessment of the current situation, the prospects for a ceasefire, and the search for a diplomatic solution, and expressed hope that the UN Security Council would be able to act more effectively to bring the war to an end.
Ukraine’s Presidential Office reported that Zelensky briefed Lula on contacts with the United States and other partners, the situation within Russian society, and the need to intensify pressure on Russia to compel the aggressor toward peace. Lula, for his part, stated that he supports achieving peace in Ukraine and will continue efforts to help bring the war to a close.
The claim that the G7 demonstrated a desire to “put an end to the conflict” in the sense of abandoning support for Ukraine does not reflect the summit’s official outcomes. In their joint statement, G7 leaders reaffirmed “unwavering support” for Ukraine’s freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; agreed to increase deliveries of air defense systems, interceptors, and long-range capabilities; and committed to tightening sanctions pressure on Russia’s war economy. Reuters reported that G7 leaders declared unity in support of Ukraine and their intention to increase pressure on Russia.
Russian outlets distorted the substance of Lula’s remarks. The Brazilian president spoke about a general war fatigue shared by supporters of Ukraine, supporters of Putin, and those providing financial backing to both sides — and about the need to intensify diplomatic efforts. Russian channels removed his references to Putin’s supporters and reframed the statement as if Lula had declared that Ukraine’s Western partners specifically are tired of supporting it. This is consistent with neither the full context of his remarks nor the official outcomes of the G7 summit, where leaders confirmed their continued support for Kyiv and their commitment to stepping up pressure on Russia.
StopFake previously debunked claims that the French press reported that Zelensky “Once Again Demanded Money” at G7.
