Brazil refuses to condemn Russia's operation in Ukraine

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Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has stated that his nation would not support a UN Security Council resolution criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin for his military operation in Ukraine and will instead maintain a neutral position.

Last week, Russia launched a special operation to demilitarize and "denazify" Ukraine on Thursday, in response to requests from the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics for assistance in combating Ukrainian troops' aggression.

The special operation is only targeting Ukrainian military facilities, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, and the civilian population is not at risk. Moscow has stated that it has no intention of occupying Ukraine.

During a press conference in Sao Paulo on Sunday evening, Bolsonaro said Putin will get no sanctions or condemnations from Brazil, adding that " we cannot interfere. We want peace, but we cannot allow the consequences to affect Brazil."

When questioned about preserving neutrality in the face of Moscow's operation in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin said that a large portion of Ukraine speaks Russian and that Russians and Ukrainians are brothers.

The Brazilian President explained that bloodshed of civilians is "off the table, nobody is using such tactics," detailing that no one is and that it is not in Putin's interest to "arrange a massacre."

Yesterday, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that a Russian delegation has arrived in Belarus for discussions with Ukrainians and is ready to start them in the city of Gomel.