Brazil's Bolsonaro refuses to sanction Russia, says Ukrainians "relied on a comic with the fate of a nation"

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Sunday, adding that Brazil could "adopt a neutral stance on Ukraine" and could not impose sanctions on Russia.

Talking at a news conference whilst on excursion, Bolsonaro stated Ukrainians had "depended on a comic with the fate of a state" — regarding Zelensky's former career as an actor and comedian.

He additionally pointed out that Brazil is dependent on Russian fertilizer, and that movement in opposition to Moscow "should convey severe harm to agriculture in Brazil." He introduced that he changed into in guide of peace — "but we do not want to convey extra problems to Brazil."

While puzzled approximately a likely bloodbath in Ukraine, Bolsonaro said it was "an exaggeration to talk of massacre," and defended Russia’s flow to recognize the seasoned-Moscow separatist areas of Luhansk and Donetsk in japanese Ukraine as independent.

Bolsonaro met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a go to to Moscow on Feb. Sixteen. 

The Brazilian President's feedback Sunday got here after the United nations protection Council voted by using majority to hold an emergency meeting these days to speak about Russia's invasion. Brazil voted in prefer of preserving the meeting whilst Russia voted towards it. India, China and the UAE abstained.