Brazilian President: UN Has Failed to Free Humanity from the Suffering of War

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed his criticism at the start of his speech at the 81st United Nations (UN) General Assembly. Lula da Silva stated that the organisation has failed in its mission to free the world from war.

According to reports from AFP and CNN on Tuesday (22/09/2026), Lula expressed his disappointment during his address. He noted that liberating humanity from the suffering caused by war should be the UN’s most important mission.

“This is my tenth time opening the general debate of this assembly since I first took the podium in 2003. This is undoubtedly the most critical moment for the United Nations, and the feeling that drives me today is profound disappointment,” said Lula da Silva.

“The UN has failed in one of its most important missions, which is to free humanity from the suffering caused by war,” he added.

Lula da Silva stated that the world is being held hostage by these conditions, attributing this to the UN’s failure to fulfil its role.

“We are all being held hostage by the inaction of the Security Council because it has failed to carry out its role,” he remarked.