In his introduction speech at the BRICS plenary session in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva slams NATO’s recent decision to “allocate 5% of GDP to military spending”, thus “fueling the arms race”. He also condemns the “violations of Iran’s territorial integrity” and says "it is urgent that the parties involved in the war in Ukraine deepen direct dialogue to obtain a ceasefire". IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES