Brazil refuses to provide Germany with tank shells for Ukraine
Brazilian flag (Photo:gleidiconrodrigues / pixabay)
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva rejected
Germany’s request to supply ammunition for Leopard-2 tanks, which Berlin would
then have transferred to Ukraine, Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo reported
on Jan. 27.
According to the article, the decision was made at a
meeting with the head of the Brazilian Armed Forces Raul Botelho and Brazilian
Defense Minister Jose Musio, on Jan. 20.
This was on the eve of the resignation of the army
commander, Julio César de Arruda.
Military servicemen and politicians familiar with the matter
claim that Arruda said that Brazil would receive around $4.9 million for the
tank rounds.
Lula refused the transfer, arguing that the Russia shouldn’t
be “provoked.” Brazil maintains a position of neutrality for economic reasons,
refusing to participate in sanctions against Russian dictator Vladimir Putin,
despite condemning the full-scale invasion of Ukraine at the UN.
Berlin promises to transfer Leopard-2 tanks to Ukraine by
the end of March.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
