Moscow wants the war in Ukraine to end “as soon as possible,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a visit to Brazil today.

At the press conference he gave together with his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira, Lavrov thanked Brazil for “understanding how the situation in Ukraine started” and added that Moscow has an “interest” in ending the conflict as soon as possible.

Vieira said he discussed with Lavrov recent developments in the war in Ukraine as well as issues of mutual interest. He also told reporters that he reiterated Brazil’s intention to form a group of countries to negotiate peace in Ukraine, stressing that his country is in favor of a ceasefire and against the imposition of unilateral sanctions.

Russia has repeatedly said that any settlement would have to take into account the “realities” created by the unilateral annexation of four Ukrainian provinces. The Russian armed forces, however, only partially control these provinces.

Russia also claims it was forced to intervene in Ukraine last February to defend Russian speakers and prevent the West from using Ukraine to threaten its security. Kiev and the West reject these claims as baseless pretexts for a war of conquest, in which thousands of people have been killed and many Ukrainian cities badly damaged.