Ukraine’s top diplomat in Brazil talks war mediation, cooperation (or lack thereof) and the diaspora

Four years ago yesterday, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine — the most destructive war Europe has seen since 1945. The United Nations counts over 15,000 civilians killed, 41,000 injured, and 10 million displaced since the start of the conflict.

On this somber anniversary, we publish a special edition of our Diplomatic Brief, a series featuring conversations with foreign diplomats about the forces that bind — and at times divide — their countries and Brazil.

Today’s guest is Oleg Vlasenko, Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires in Brazil. He has had three decades of diplomatic postings in Washington, Mexico City, Madrid and others, and had a front-row seat to his country’s foreign policy before arriving in Brasília last September. 

This interview was edited for brevity and clarity.