Brazil again condemns Russian invasion at the UN, but criticizes the sending of weapons to Ukraine

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Brazil once again condemned the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, in a speech at the UN General Assembly, in New York, this Monday (28). At the same time, the country questioned sending more weapons by Western powers to Ukraine, because of the risk of an escalation in the conflict. The statements came a day after President Jair Bolsonaro said that the country will remain neutral in the conflict.

“In recent years, we have seen a progressive deterioration of the security situation and the balance of power in Eastern Europe. The weakening of the Minsk Accords by all parties and the discrediting of the security concerns voiced by Russia set the stage for the crisis. what we are seeing”, said Ronaldo Costa Filho at the UN tribune. “Let me be clear, however: this situation does not justify the use of force against the territory of a member state.”

Costa Filho called on United Nations bodies to work together to find solutions, as the crisis could have a much wider impact if not contained. “We are under a rapid escalation of tensions that could put all of humanity at risk. But we still have time to stop this.”

The ambassador, on the other hand, questioned the sending of weapons to Ukraine, as well as the application of sanctions against Russia. In recent days, European countries have announced the supply of more war material to Ukraine. “We call on the actors involved to reassess their decisions regarding the supply of weapons, the use of digital attacks and the application of selective sanctions, including in the important area of ​​food security. We need constructive solutions, not actions that will prolong hostilities and spread conflict, with effects on the economy and world security,” he said.

The General Assembly holds an extraordinary meeting this Monday to address the crisis in Ukraine. The event, which started at 10 am (12 pm in Brasília), should have speeches by representatives from more than 100 countries and debate a resolution to condemn the invasion. The body, however, cannot apply measures, such as sanctions or sending peace missions. Only the Security Council has the authority to do so.

This instance of the United Nations is made up of 15 countries, five of which have permanent seats with veto power and another ten in rotating seats — Brazil currently occupies a temporary position. As Russia is a permanent member of the body, it can bar measures against itself.

Also on Monday, in the afternoon, the Security Council met again to deal with the war, in a meeting marked by requests for greater attention to be given to refugees trying to escape the conflict. Brazil, in turn, again criticized the risk of escalating tensions.

“Severe sanctions can have effects on the global economy with consequences felt far beyond Russia. Possibly, populations in developing countries will be the ones who will suffer the most”, said João Genésio de Almeida Filho, the country’s alternate permanent representative at the UN. “The supply of weapons and the increasing militarization of the region will hardly promote dialogue. It will probably generate more tensions.” As an example, he pointed out that a nuclear conflict could devastate the planet’s ecosystem.

This is just 11th since an emergency meeting of the UN General Assembly has been convened since the creation of the entity, in 1945. The implementation of the device is part of a strategy to increase pressure on Russia and divert the veto power that Moscow has in the Council of Safety. The body held four meetings to address the war in the last week, and a resolution to condemn the invasion was supported by 11 of the 15 members, but Russia blocked the measure. Brazil voted in favor of the resolution.

On Sunday (27), President Bolsonaro defended that Brazil remain neutral in the conflict. “We cannot interfere. We want peace, but we cannot bring consequences here,” said the Brazilian president during a press conference at a hotel in Guarujá (SP).

Also on Sunday, Ambassador Costa Filho had already asked for caution before imposing punishments on Russia. For him, it cannot be ignored that some of the measures discussed “increase the risks of a broader and more direct confrontation between NATO [a aliança militar do Ocidente] and Russia”.

Two days earlier, the diplomat had been firm against Moscow, in a game of bite and blow. “The 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,” he said before the vote on the text.

A week before Russia invades Ukraine, Bolsonaro continued his visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin, justifying the need to expand trade ties with Moscow. Another Kremlin ally, China, used his speech at the UN on Monday to reinforce Beijing’s stance against the formation of a new Cold War, in which “there is nothing to gain” according to Ambassador Zhang Jun.

“The Cold War ended a long time ago. The Cold War mentality based on clashing blocks must be abandoned. There is nothing to be gained by starting a new Cold War”, highlighted the representative.

Zhang reaffirmed that the sovereignty and territory of all countries must be respected, in an indirect reference to the issue of Taiwan, an island that Beijing considers rebellious, and that “the security of one country cannot come at the expense of the security of others”. He also pointed out that Ukraine “must serve as a bridge of communication between East and West, instead of becoming a post of confrontation between powers”.

At the opening of the General Assembly meeting this Monday, the UN Secretary General, the Portuguese António Guterres, made a new appeal for peace and condemned the Russian invasion. “This is unacceptable violence. Enough. Civilians must be protected and international borders respected.”​ Sergei Kislitsia, Ukraine’s UN representative and first ambassador to speak, began his speech by showing a printed image of what he said. be an exchange of messages from a soldier killed in the war.

“Mom, I’m in Ukraine. There’s a real war here. I’m scared. We’re attacking cities, even civilians. They said people would welcome us, but they call us fascists. This is so hard, Mom.” read the ambassador in the UN rostrum. “That was minutes before he was killed.”

The ambassador said the start of the Russian invasion recalls the beginning of World War II, whose implications for the future could be profound. “If Ukraine doesn’t survive, the UN won’t survive. Don’t doubt it. We can still save Ukraine, the UN, democracy and the values ​​we believe in.”

Kislitsia also mentioned the German dictator Adolf Hitler, without saying his name. “If [Putin] wants to kill himself, he doesn’t need to use the nuclear arsenal. He has to do what the guy in Berlin did in a bunker in May 1945,” said the Ukrainian diplomat.

Subsequently, the Russian representative to the UN, Vasili Nebenzia, returned to make attacks on Ukraine. He accused the government led by President Volodymyr Zelensky of having Nazi and genocidal attitudes, of lying about the results of the invasion and of endangering its own population. “The government of Ukraine is using the civilian population as a shield,” accused Nebenzia. After the invasion of Ukraine, many civilians were called up to fight along with the Ukrainian Army to contain the Russian advance.

European countries, in turn, have criticized Moscow. “Russia invaded Ukraine without provocation and without justification. If we don’t stand up now, then the security of borders and the independence of all nations will be at risk,” said Barbara Woodward, the UK ambassador.

France has made it clear that it will vote for a resolution to condemn the invasion and has called on others to act as well. “It’s a question of defending the UN’s reason for existing. No one can look the other way. Abstention is not an option. Abstaining is consenting to the law of the strongest,” said Nicolas de Riviere.

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