Brazil’s Lula kicks off visit to European ally Portugal
By HELENA ALVES
Associated Press
LISBON (AP) — Portugal’s president has welcomed President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil on an official visit to Lisbon. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa received Lula and Brazilian first lady Rosangela da Silva in an official ceremony at the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon. Portugal is home to over 250,000 Brazilians. Lula is looking to strengthen ties with his country’s natural partner in the European Union. He annoyed leaders in the EU and the United States last weekend by stating that Ukraine and Russia had both chosen to go to war and that Western military aid was fueling the conflict.