Putin has called Ukraine a fake country and recognized the Donetsk and Luhansk republics. As the temperature continues to rise, let's look at an unrelated event in Moscow earlier on: Bolsonaro's visit on the 16th. He was received warmly, unlike Macron who had to sit on the opposite side of a long table to meet Putin. Officially this is because Bolsonaro accepted all Covid tests demanded by the Russians, but I wonder if there was an intended message. Bolsonaro's international trip has some internal motives, he went to Russia to secure access to fertilizer (imports and the promise of a Russian factory in Mato Grosso do Sul) for his agrobusiness base and then to Hungary to meet Órban and talk about "God, Fatherland, Family and Freedom" to please his ideological base.
The US State Department complained that the visit happened at the worst possible moment and that Bolsonaro declared his solidarity (vague, nonspecific, feel-good diplomatic solidarity) with Russia. National media has agreed with this and condemned him for meeting with Putler and Orbanolini, though it wasn't a scandal as it is just one point in the continuous criticism he receives. CNN Brazil interviewed Temer's former Foreign Minister, who said the visit to Russia was a sensible move and the decision to not cancel or delay it was correct, as otherwise Brazil would be picking a side (Ukraine's). Temer also defended the visit.
Bolsonaro missed the opportunity to gain from diplomacy with Russia earlier on, this was a good move but came late.