A group of right-wing Brazilian congressmen traveled to Ukraine to participate in a conference organized by the Ukrainian government for politicians from Latin America and the Caribbean. The group, formed by senators Magno Malta (PL), Damares Alves (Republicans), Sergio Moro (Union), and federal deputy Paulo Bilynskyj (PL), remains in the country until next Sunday (1st).
The visit to Kyiv comes amid an escalation of the war between Russia and Ukraine. The conflict in the country, which will celebrate its third anniversary in February, began after Russian dictator Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade the neighboring country. This Friday (29), congressmen met with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.
“I apologized [a Zelensky]on behalf of Brazilians, for the disrespectful statements made by representatives of the current government, making it clear that the majority of us do not agree with such attitudes. I also took the opportunity to highlight the delicate moment we are experiencing in Brazil, with worrying signs of authoritarianism”, said Senator Magno Malta (PL) after meeting with the Ukrainian leader.
Senator Sergio Moro (PL) also met with Volodymyr Zelensky and recorded the moment on his social networks. “We came, the Brazilian delegation, to Ukraine to say, in a loud and clear tone and with solar clarity, that the Brazilian population supports its cause and that it is against the war of aggression promoted by Russia. Ukraine, today, fights for its sovereignty and for the free world. Lula’s position does not represent us”, wrote Moro.
In addition to participating in discussions at the conference “Ukraine and the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean: Cooperation for the Future”, Brazilian politicians will also visit civilian infrastructure affected by the war, Ukrainian soldiers injured in combat and human rights representatives. Representatives from Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Honduras, Chile, Dominican Republic, Belize, Guatemala, Panama and El Salvador also had representatives sent to the country.
“During the meeting with parliamentarians and diplomats from Latin American countries, I emphasized the need for the borders of our states to be respected — unconditionally. We want this to be the rule not only for Ukraine, but for all nations in the world. We want that each nation be free to choose its own future, free from coercion — whether through war, political pressure or economic manipulation by another country,” wrote Zelensky after meeting with congressmen
The crisis between Lula and Ukraine
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) has faced friction with Ukraine since he began to relativize the ongoing war in Eastern Europe. Amid statements considered worrying, the PT member even said that Zelensky was as much to blame for the war as Putin, equating responsibility for the war between the invader and the invaded.
The Brazilian president has also refused to approach the Ukrainian leader and, despite several invitations, has not yet been to Ukraine. On the other hand, Lula has focused on increasingly strengthening ties with Russia and dictator Vladimir Putin. In nods he made to the autocrat, he even stated that Putin would not be arrested if he came to Brazil to participate in the G20 Leaders’ Summit, which Brazil hosted last week in Rio de Janeiro.
