Global flight odyssey

Refusal to refuel Lavrov’s plane in Brazil

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has been on an odyssey of flights to and from Brazil.(Bild: AP)

Putin's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has had a flight odyssey to Brazil. He had to take a detour on the outward flight and was finally denied kerosene to refuel the plane on the way back. The minister was eventually picked up by his Brazilian counterpart.

Sergey Lavrov had taken part in the meeting of foreign ministers in Brazil. Even the outward flight was inconvenient. He had to fly south from Moscow via Turkey and then to Casablanca (Morocco) in order to avoid the restricted European airspace. From North Africa, he then flew to Havana (Cuba) and Rio de Janeiro.

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had an odyssey of flights to and from Brazil.(Bild: AP)

After the G20 meeting, Lavrov wanted to fly on to Brasilia on Thursday to meet President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. According to media reports, the kerosene supplier "Vibra Energia" in Brazil's capital refused to refuel Lavrov's plane. The company feared that it would otherwise be affected by the sanctions imposed by the USA due to the war in Ukraine. These also prohibit companies abroad from doing business with people who cooperate with the Kremlin.

Brought back to Brasilia
Lavrov had wanted to refuel in Brasilia as there was not enough kerosene for the return flight to Moscow. The politician had to leave his plane behind, but was lucky in that the Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira took him back to Brasilia. The German newspaper "Bild" wrote of an "embarrassing tanking" for the Russian foreign minister.

The EU sanctions are also aimed directly at Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Sergei Lavrov, among others. No business may be conducted with them, they are subject to property taxes and are not allowed to enter the EU.