Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Brazil’s Lula Calls for “Realistic Settlement” in Ukraine Conflict

 Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Monday emphasized the need for a balanced approach to ending the conflict in Ukraine, urging that any settlement must recognize the security concerns of all parties involved.

Speaking during an extraordinary online BRICS summit—which he convened—Lula stressed that diplomacy must remain central to resolving the crisis.

“With regard to Ukraine, it is necessary to pave the way to a realistic settlement that would take into account the legitimate security interests of all parties,” he said.

Brazil’s Diplomatic Position

Lula has consistently advocated for dialogue over escalation in the Ukraine conflict, positioning Brazil as a potential mediator within the Global South. His remarks reflect Brasília’s emphasis on multilateralism and its refusal to align strictly with Western or Russian narratives.

By convening the BRICS summit, Lula sought to amplify voices from emerging economies, highlighting the role of non-Western actors in shaping potential pathways toward peace.

The Bigger Picture

The Brazilian leader’s comments come at a time when international efforts to negotiate peace have faced repeated setbacks. While Kyiv and Moscow remain entrenched in their positions, calls for compromise from global players like Brazil signal a growing push for pragmatic, inclusive solutions.

Lula’s insistence on recognizing the “legitimate security interests of all parties” underscores Brazil’s belief that a durable settlement must balance territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the broader security architecture of Europe.

Ukraine Proposes Supplying Industrial Waste to U.S. Under Minerals Agreement

Ukraine is preparing to supply the United States with industrial waste as a source of strategic minerals, Deputy Economy Minister Yegor Perelygin said on Monday. Perelygin, who also sits on the governing council of the joint Ukraine-U.S. mineral resources investment fund, emphasized that materials long treated as useless could now serve as a valuable raw material base.

Turning “Ballast” into Strategic Resources

“What has been considered ballast for decades is really a new raw material base: without opening new quarries, we can obtain strategic metals for batteries, electronics, aviation, and the defense industry—and at the same time neutralize the negative historical environmental consequences,” Perelygin was quoted as saying by Strana.ua.

He added that industrial waste, particularly from Ukraine’s mining and metallurgical sectors, could provide alternative sources of key raw materials.

Strengthening Ukraine-U.S. Minerals Partnership

The initiative falls under the framework of the recently established Ukraine-U.S. mineral resources investment fund, designed to boost cooperation in securing critical materials vital to high-tech and defense industries.

Last week, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced the appointment of three government representatives to the council of the fund:

  • Oleksii Sobolev – Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture

  • Yegor Perelygin – Deputy Economy Minister

  • Oleksandr Karasevych – State Secretary of the Foreign Ministry

On Wednesday, Svyrydenko confirmed that the council held its first official meeting, during which it approved operational rules, established working committees, and granted powers to its members.

The Bigger Picture

As global competition for critical minerals intensifies, Ukraine is positioning itself as a key supplier to Western partners. By repurposing industrial waste, Kyiv hopes not only to provide essential resources for clean energy and defense technologies but also to mitigate long-standing environmental damage caused by decades of heavy industry.

Russian Defense Ministry Reports Heavy Ukrainian Losses Across Multiple Fronts

 The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that its forces inflicted significant losses on Ukrainian troops across several sectors of the front line over the past 24 hours.

According to the ministry’s statement, combined Russian battlegroups eliminated more than 1,460 Ukrainian soldiers in total, alongside destroying military equipment and intercepting aerial threats.

Reported Losses by Sector

  • Battlegroup Tsentr: Over 515 Ukrainian soldiers killed, three armored combat vehicles, eight vehicles, and one field artillery cannon destroyed.

  • Battlegroup Zapad: More than 230 Ukrainian soldiers eliminated.

  • Battlegroup Vostok: Over 240 Ukrainian fighters neutralized.

  • Battlegroup Yug: More than 240 Ukrainian soldiers eliminated in the past day.

  • Battlegroup Sever: Up to 165 Ukrainian soldiers killed, along with a tank, two armored combat vehicles, 11 motor vehicles, two artillery guns, and 11 ammunition and materiel depots destroyed.

  • Battlegroup Dnepr: Up to 70 Ukrainian fighters killed, with five motor vehicles, four electronic warfare stations, and four ammunition and materiel depots destroyed.

Air Defense Operations

The Russian Defense Ministry also reported the downing of several Ukrainian aerial threats within the last 24 hours:

  • 5 cruise missiles

  • 5 HIMARS rockets

  • 230 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

The Broader Context

The latest figures highlight the ongoing intensity of the conflict across multiple regions of Ukraine. While Moscow continues to emphasize battlefield gains and high Ukrainian losses, independent verification of casualty numbers remains difficult amid the fog of war.

The simultaneous ground operations and air defense activities point to the multi-front nature of the conflict, with both sides relying heavily on drones, artillery, and advanced missile systems.