Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil and Vladimir Putin of Russia held a telephone conversation Monday during which they discussed ongoing global affairs and reviewed the bilateral agenda. In addition, the South American leader accepted the invitation to attend the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow in May, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Both leaders also welcomed Indonesia's joining the BRICS group as a full member.
UK’s Minister for International Development Anneliese Dodds is in Rio de Janeiro representing the UK at the G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting – on the first visit by a member of the new government to South America.