Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will not let anything and anyone deter him from his visit to Moscow, which has been planned for months.

Meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday was a matter of respect for him, he said.

Bolsonaro also cites the economic importance of the trip.

Brazil is dependent on fertilizers from Russia and Belarus.

The visiting ministers also addressed other issues of interest: energy, defense and agriculture.

Tjerk Bruhwiller

Correspondent for Latin America based in São Paulo.

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Each country is free to hold bilateral meetings with other countries.

However, the timing of Bolsonaro's visit to Moscow is considered very inappropriate by Washington.

The White House reportedly expressed concern to Brazilian diplomats that Bolsonaro's trip to Moscow could give the impression that Brazil condoned Putin's behavior and was indifferent to a possible invasion of Ukraine.

Brasília, on the other hand, stressed that the government was committed to peace and a diplomatic solution.

Traditionally, however, Brasilia's diplomats shy away from taking sides.

Bolsonaro's predecessors were also criticized for courting Putin.

In the UN Security Council, however, the South Americans sided with Washington a good two weeks ago when it came to convening a session on the Ukraine crisis against Russia's resistance.

Bolsonaro is unknown in Russia

Bolsonaro might have stayed at home at the request of his great ally Donald Trump.

But since Joe Biden's election, relations between the two countries have cooled.

Bolsonaro was among the last leaders to recognize Biden's election and had publicly supported Trump's allegations of voter fraud.

Since Biden's election, the two countries have also not been on the same page on the issue of climate protection.

Washington's pressure on Brazil has increased.

Observers suspect that Bolsonaro's visit to Moscow will put further strain on relations.

If Brazil is so important, then why isn't Biden speaking to Bolsonaro, Brazilian diplomats are said to have said in reference to Washington's concerns.

Bolsonaro is practically unknown in Russia.

Putin should nevertheless succeed in using his Brazilian counterpart's visit for his purposes.

Bolsonaro is not only concerned with bilateral trade in Moscow.

Russia is far less important than the United States in this regard.

Observers also doubt that the Brazilian delegation will travel home with a trade agreement, and instead emphasize the domestic significance of the trip.

With regard to the presidential election in October, Bolsonaro wants to show that he is not isolated internationally.

The images from the last G20 summit, when Bolsonaro stood alone on the sidelines, spoke volumes.

After his visit to Moscow, Bolsonaro will travel on to Hungary, whose head of state Victor Orbán is already among his small circle of friends.