Without directly criticizing Vladimir Putin or blaming Russia, President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) said this Saturday (26) that Brazil’s position in defense of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries has always been clear. He also highlighted the Itamaraty’s efforts to coordinate the Brazilian withdrawal operation in Ukraine.
Bolsonaro spoke about the Russian-Ukrainian conflict a day after Brazil voted in favor of a UN Security Council resolution to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The measure was blocked by Moscow, which has the power of veto as one of the five permanent members of the collegiate.
“Brazil’s position in defense of sovereignty, self-determination and the territorial integrity of States has always been clear and is being communicated through the appropriate channels for this, such as the UN Security Council, and through official pronouncements,” Bolsonaro wrote. on a social network.
Expressions such as sovereignty, self-determination of peoples and territorial integrity have been used in international organizations to criticize the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops.
However, in his sequence of messages Bolsonaro made no direct references to Moscow or Putin, whom he met on February 16 during a visit to Moscow.
On the occasion, Bolsonaro said he was “in solidarity” with Russia, in a speech interpreted in the West as a show of sympathy for the then possible military mobilization of the Kremlin on the Ukrainian borders, now consolidated.
On Friday (25), for the first time, Brazil’s representation at the UN used harsh terms to condemn Moscow’s action. The Brazilian ambassador to the organization, Ronaldo Costa Filho, said that Russian security concerns do not give them the right to threaten the territory of another state.
In his post on social media this Saturday, President Bolsonaro said that, so far, 50 Brazilians have been removed to neighboring countries, including journalists, students, businessmen and athletes.
“I also put my ministers, advisors and Brazilian diplomacy at the service of the evacuation of Brazilians by land,” he wrote. Bolsonaro said he had ordered two aircraft to be made available for the eventual repatriation of Brazilians who are still in Ukrainian territory.
“Even in the face of a difficult scenario, we reinforce: no one will be left behind”, he said. “I ask Brazilians in conflicted territories to stand firm, follow the guidelines and report any incidents to us. I know the difficulties, but we will spare no effort to resolve them.”
According to Bolsonaro, the Foreign Ministry sent a mission of diplomats to Romania’s border with Ukraine. The ministry also coordinates the operation to remove Brazilians and is in direct contact with the head of Kiev’s central train station and with local authorities.
The president took advantage of the post to attack the press. “Unfortunately, even at a sensitive moment, when human lives, non-negotiable principles of international relations and important resources for the lives of Brazilians are at stake, part of the press insists on generating noise and misinforming Brazilians in exchange for clicks”, he said. .
“Not even an armed conflict, unwanted by all of us, is capable of awakening in these people the due sense of responsibility and commitment to the truth necessary for our people to go through this difficult moment with serenity and awareness of the real situation in our country.”
Bolsonaro also stated that the government is focused on guaranteeing Brazil’s security, “protecting the interests of our people, assisting Brazilian citizens who are in the conflict regions and contributing to a peaceful resolution of the conflict.”
With the Russian veto of the Security Council resolution, the score served for countries to show their displeasure with Putin’s action. It also aimed to highlight the diplomatic isolation of the political.
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). The Security Council’s reaction came a day after Russia attacked Ukraine and established a military presence in Donbass. The conflict affects several parts of Ukraine and this Saturday reached the capital, Kiev.
