President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) said this Sunday (27) that he called Vladimir Putin, Russia’s head of state, and the two exchanged ideas for two hours. As the European country launches attacks on Ukraine, Bolsonaro declared that the topic of conversation was “reserved”.
However, hours later, he himself denied on a social network the existence of the conversation, saying that the last contact with Putin had been in a meeting for his visit to Moscow, on the 16th.
Interlocutors consulted at the Itamaraty had already stated that there had been no phone call between Bolsonaro and Putin in recent days.
In a press conference this Sunday, at a hotel in Guarujá (SP), Bolsonaro said that Brazil should adopt a stance of neutrality in the midst of conflicts between European countries.
“We cannot interfere. We want peace, but we cannot bring consequences here”, declared Bolsonaro.
Despite the supposed tone of neutrality, Bolsonaro disagreed with the word massacre said by a journalist during the interview, and also mocked the fact that Volodymyr Zelensky acted as an actor and comedian before being elevated to the presidency of Ukraine.
“You are exaggerating the word massacre. There is no interest on the part of a head of state to carry out a massacre anywhere, he is working in two regions of southern Ukraine”, says the president of Brazil. “[O povo ucraniano] trusted a comedian with the fate of a nation. I will wait for the report to issue my opinion [se condeno ou não Putin].”
Charged internally by advisors and allies, Bolsonaro spoke out for the first time about the conflicts, which began on Thursday (24), only this Sunday. A week before Russia invades Ukraine, Bolsonaro made a point of paying Putin a visit, justifying the need to expand trade ties.
Bolsonaro, who will seek re-election in this year’s elections, made clear this Sunday that his concerns about the economic consequences of the war promoted by Putin.
“The whole world is connected that what happens 10,000 km away has an influence on Brazil. We have to be responsible in terms of business with Russia. Brazil depends on fertilizers”, says Bolsonaro. “I was just talking to President Putin, we talked about fertilizers, our trade, he talked about Ukraine, but I reserve myself not to go into details the way you [jornalistas] would like.”
Following, the president also spoke about Brazil’s position during the UN General Assembly, in which he should debate new sanctions against Russia. “There is no sanction or condemnation for President Putin,” Bolsonaro said.
“Brazil’s vote is not defined and is not tied to any power. Our vote is free. Our position with Minister Carlos França is one of balance. And we cannot interfere. We want peace, but we cannot bring consequences for here.”
Ambassador Ronaldo Costa Filho, Brazil’s representative to the United Nations, said that caution is needed before each punishment. According to him, it cannot be ignored that some of the measures discussed “increase the risks of a broader and more direct confrontation between NATO and Russia”.
