Brazil rejects Germany's request for tank ammunition for Ukraine - media

The Folha de S.Paulo publication reports that the request was discussed at a meeting between the President of Brazil and the leadership of the Armed Forces and Defense Minister Jose Mucio. The then commander of the Brazilian army, Júlio Cesar de Arruda, offered to sell the ammunition to Germany on the condition that Ukraine would not receive it.

Instead, Lula, according to the outlet's sources, said that “we should not provoke the Russians” and decided to reject Germany's request.

Brazil is one of the few countries (along with Chile, Greece, and Turkey) that has Leopard 1 tanks in service, which explains the German government's request. It is known that Rheinmetall is ready to transfer 88 of these tanks to Kyiv after repair, but the shortage of shells remains a major problem.

As Folha de S. Paulo notes, this is not the first such request: last year, Berlin asked Brazil to transfer shells for Gepard anti-aircraft missile systems that Ukraine uses in its war against Russia, and to no avail.

Despite having condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022, at the UN, Brazil maintains a position of neutrality for economic reasons, refusing to participate in sanctions against Russia.

• On January 25, Germany approved the supply of 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and allowed the re-exports to other countries.