Brazil's Lula says to push Putin to negotiate with Zelensky in Istanbul

Brazil's president said on Wednesday he will press Vladimir Putin in person to attend negotiations with Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky in Turkey, adding to calls on the Russian leader to enter talks and end Moscow's invasion.

Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will stop over in the Russian capital on the way back to Brazil following the conclusion of a regional forum in China.

"I'll try to talk to Putin," Lula said at a press conference in Beijing ahead of his departure.

"It costs me nothing to say, 'hey, comrade Putin, go to Istanbul and negotiate, dammit'", he said.

The negotiations scheduled for Thursday in Istanbul would be the first direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow since 2022, shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbour.

Lula's comments come after the Ukrainian foreign minister on Tuesday urged Brazil to use its influence with Russia and make a meeting between Putin and Zelensky happen.

They also come after Brazil and China issued a joint statement Tuesday calling for direct negotiations as the "only way to end the conflict".

Zelensky on Tuesday urged US President Donald Trump -- currently on a tour of Middle Eastern countries -- to also visit Turkey and participate in talks.

The Kremlin has not yet specified whether Putin will attend in person, stating only that the "Russian delegation will be present".