Brazil voted this Friday (25) in favor of a resolution in the United Nations Security Council to condemn the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
The measure, however, was vetoed by Moscow, which has the power to bar measures as one of the five permanent members of the collegiate. Thus, in practice, the resolution only served for countries to show their displeasure with Vladimir Putin’s action, without generating immediate action.
The vetoed resolution condemned the Russian president’s declaration of a “special military operation” in Ukraine; deplored in the strongest terms the aggression against Ukraine, in violation of the UN Charter; and decided that the Kremlin should immediately stop the use of force against Ukrainian territory.
It also called for Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine immediately and unconditionally, and it rejected Moscow’s recognition of the Ukrainian rebel provinces of Donetsk and Lugansk.
The measure, proposed by the US and Albania, had 11 votes in favour, 1 against (Russia) and 3 abstentions (China, India and the United Arab Emirates). In addition to the two proponents, Brazil, France, Gabon, Ghana, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, the United Kingdom and Kenya defended the resolution.
The Brazilian ambassador to the UN, Ronaldo Costa Filho, adopted a harsh tone against Russia, unprecedented in his speeches about the crisis. The diplomat’s statements may signal a turnaround by the Jair Bolsonaro (PL) government, which until now had avoided directly blaming the Russians for the situation — and being directly charged by other countries, such as the US, to change its position.
“First, the Security Council must react quickly to the use of force against the territorial integrity of a member state. A line has been crossed and this Council cannot remain silent”, said Costa Filho, in the debate that preceded the vote. .
The head of the Brazilian mission stated that, in negotiating the text, the Brazilian government sought a “balance to maintain space for dialogue”, but stressed that it is necessary to signal that “the use of force against the territorial integrity of a Member State does not is acceptable in the world today”.
After the vote, Costa Filho spoke again. “Brazil regrets that the Security Council was unable to react to a violation of international peace and security, which is taking place as we speak,” he said. He called the Russian invasion “an act of aggression”.
“We could have ended up with a text that was more aimed at reconciliation. Brazil fought for that. However, under current conditions, even a different text would not have been enough to allow the council to fulfill its responsibility to maintain international peace and security.” “, he stated.
“No country, with or without veto power, should be able to use force against the territorial integrity of another state. The paralysis of the council when world peace is at risk can lead to irrelevance when it was most needed.”
In the last two SC meetings to address the issue, held this week, Costa Filho had avoided direct attacks on Russian actions in his speeches. Brazil had been trying to balance itself between the position of the US and NATO allies (the Western military alliance) and that of Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
Costa Filho’s last demonstration had been made on Wednesday night (23). On the occasion, the Brazilian diplomat said that “the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of a UN member is unacceptable”.
Despite the critical terms, at the time he did not directly mention the government of Russia and steered clear of the rhetoric of Americans and European allies, who directly blame Putin for the biggest military threat on the European continent since World War II.
The invasion of Ukraine was announced by the Russian president that very night, just as the UN was debating the issue.
In recent days, diplomats from the United States and other Western countries have had meetings with the Itamaraty to try to secure Brazil’s vote. This Friday morning, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone with Foreign Minister Carlos França.
Last week, President Jair Bolsonaro paid a visit to Moscow and said that Brazil “is in solidarity” with Russia, without specifying in what aspect he expressed solidarity. The Brazilian leader’s gesture was repudiated by the US.
“The vast majority of the global community is united in their view that another country taking part of their land, terrorizing their people, is certainly something not in line with global values. And so, I think Brazil may be on the other side where the majority of the global community is,” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on the 18th.
After the criticism, Bolsonaro said in a live that his trip to Moscow “was not to take sides with anyone”. “I even said that the world is our home and that God is above everyone. I spoke a message of peace,” he said.
