Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s president, has refused to penalize Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying that Brazil will “adopt a neutral stance on Ukraine” and will not impose sanctions on Russia, refusing to follow the lead of several western nations in imposing crippling costs on Russia for its unjustified invasion of a sovereign Ukraine.
Bolsonaro said Ukrainians had “entrusted a comedian with the fate of a nation” during a news conference while on vacation on Sunday, January 27. Bolsonaro was referring to Zelensky’s prior career as an actor and comedian.
He also stated that Brazil relies on Russian fertilizer and that any action taken against Moscow “may do major harm to Brazilian agriculture.”
He went on to say that he favored peace, but that “we don’t want to bring more issues to Brazil.”
Bolsonaro stated it was “an exaggeration to speak of massacre” when asked about a possible massacre in Ukraine.
He also defended Russia’s decision to recognize the pro-Russian rebel republics of Luhansk and Donetsk as autonomous in eastern Ukraine.
His remarks came less than two weeks after a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on February 16.
The remarks came after the UN Security Council agreed by a large majority to convene an emergency meeting today to consider Russia’s incursion. Russia voted against hosting the meeting, while Brazil voted in support of it. India, China, and the United Arab Emirates voted no.