The Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaroconfirmed this Saturday his visit to Russia next Tuesday, despite the extreme tension over Ukrainewhere U.S estimates an imminent Russian invasion.
“On Monday we will be taking off for Russia (…) I was invited by the president (Vladimir Putin“, he said in a broadcast social networksafter an interview with a local radio.
According to several analysts, Washington has pressured the Brazilian president to cancel his trip, officially focused on promoting bilateral trade relations, given the latent threat of war in Europe.
As phone calls aimed at making diplomacy prevail multiplied on Saturday between Western leaders and Russia without lowering the tension, Bolsonaro put his faith in God.
“We ask God for peace to reign in the world, for the good of all of us,” he said.
In his mission, said the far-right president, issues of bilateral interest such as agriculture, energy and defense will be addressed.
Totaling $7.29 billion in 2021, Russian-Brazilian trade is modest.
But “Brazil depends largely on fertilizers from Russia,” Bolsonaro said.
They represent about 60% of the purchases from Brazil to Russia and they are essential for the South American country, a large world agricultural producer and exporter.
Brazil continues to advocate “dialogue” in the Russo-Western crisis and has been careful not to take sides, focusing on bilateral issues during this visit.
But the United States in particular fears it will be perceived as a sign of support for the Russian president.
With the role of a tightrope walker, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs celebrated on Friday the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Ukraine, recalling in a press release the “multiple high-level contacts” since Brazil “recognized Ukraine’s independence” in 1991.
