Brazil abstained from a vote at the UN to decide whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would attend the opening of the United Nations General Assembly via videoconference. During the war and under Russian occupation, the Ukrainian government chose not to leave the country.
President Jair Bolsonaro opens the UN meeting next Tuesday in a meeting marked by debate over the international implications of war and conflict. Called Itamaraty has yet to give an answer about the option to abstain. However, foreign ministry sources told the report that the decision was made to avoid any inconvenience on the part of the Russians. Moscow was against Zelensky’s participation in the virtual format.
Ukrainian participation was confirmed by 101 votes in favour, with just seven votes, including Russia, Nicaragua, Cuba and North Korea. In addition to Brazil, 18 other countries abstained, including Moscow’s ally China. Even India, a member of the BRICS and starting to import Russian oil, abstained and did not vote in favor of Zelensky’s participation.
Since the beginning of the conflict, Jair Bolsonaro’s government has taken a stance of disagreeing with Ukraine’s demands. Despite pressure from Europeans and Americans, Itamaraty insisted on refraining from certain other resolutions condemning Russian attacks or taking countermeasures against the Kremlin.
Brazil also insisted on sanctions against Moscow and warned of a risk of rupture in channels of dialogue with President Vladimir Putin. In the commercial field, Russian sales to the Brazilian market have doubled since the start of the war.
Despite Itamaraty’s stance, a few Ukrainian representatives do not openly complain about Brazil and Putin’s approach to his position in the war.
source: Noticias
