Brazil will not send ammunition for tanks to Ukraine, says chancellor

Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira reiterated that Brazil will not send ammunition for tanks to Ukraine. The declaration was made this Friday (17th) during the 59th Security Conference, in Munich, Germany. The event brings together more than 40 world leaders.

In the evaluation of the Brazilian government, the measure would be understood as a participation of Brazil in the war, reported Agência Brasil. “Instead of participating in a war, we prefer to talk about peace”, said the chancellor. Vieira emphasized the country’s willingness to participate in mediation to reach a truce and then negotiate peace: “Brazil is ready to help whenever possible,” he said.

Germany asked Brazil to supply the Ukrainians with ammunition for Leopard 2 type war tanks. However, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) did not authorize the operation. “I didn’t mean to send [munição], because if I order it, I joined the war. And I don’t want to join the war, I want to end the war. This is my dilemma and my commitment”, said the president in an interview with CNN, on the last 10th. Lula defends the creation of a group to negotiate peace between Ukraine and Russia.

In Germany, Mauro Vieira has already had bilateral meetings with representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Colombia, Slovenia, Malta, Dominican Republic, United Kingdom and Switzerland, as well as with the High Representative of the European Union for Business Foreigners and Security Policy.

Created in 1962, the Munich Security Conference has become one of the main global forums for discussion and reflection on the challenges to international peace and security. Minister Mauro Vieira’s agenda continues this Saturday (18), when he participates in the panel Defending the UN Charter and the Rules-Based International Order, in addition to participating in new bilateral meetings.