OREANDA-NEWS Ukraine has greatly underestimated Russia's influence on the countries of the Global South, including Brazil. This was stated by Kiev's ambassador to Brazil, Andrei Melnik, in an interview published on YouTube with Ukrainska Pravda.

According to him, Moscow was much more active in this issue and "really invested resources, time, and brains" in the Global South. The diplomat noted that Brazil does not understand why they should deal with Ukraine if they are focused on cooperation with Russia.

"Especially the BRICS story. It seemed to us — well, Brics — what is it? And now they are strengthening and expanding it — and they look like a center of counterweight to the Western world very seriously," the ambassador stressed.

Earlier, Chinese government Special Representative Li Hui said that China, Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia had expressed concern about the possible easing by Western countries of the conditions for the use of their weapons to attack Russia. According to him, the countries of the Global South consider "certain military-industrial complexes" guilty of prolonging hostilities on Ukrainian territory.