BRASILIA (REUTERS) - Russia has asked Brazil for support in the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the G-20 group of top economies to help it counter crippling sanctions imposed by the West since it invaded Ukraine, according to a letter seen by Reuters.

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov wrote to Economy Minister Paulo Guedes asking for Brazil's "support to prevent political accusations and discrimination attempts in international financial institutions and multilateral fora."

"Behind the scenes, work is under way in the IMF and World Bank to limit or even expel Russia from the decision-making process," Siluanov wrote.

The letter, which made no mention of the war in Ukraine, was dated March 30 and relayed to the Brazilian minister by Russia's ambassador in Brasilia on Wednesday (April 13).

"As you know, Russia is going through a challenging period of economic and financial turbulence caused by sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies," the Russian minister said.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said last week that the United States would not participate in any G-20 meetings if Russia was present, citing the invasion.

Almost half of Russia's international reserves have been frozen and foreign trade transactions are being blocked, including those with its emerging market economy partners, Siluanov said.

"The United States and its satellites are pursuing a policy of isolating Russia from the international community," he added.

Siluanov said the sanctions violate the principles of the Bretton Woods agreements that set up the IMF and the World Bank.

"We consider that the current crisis caused by unprecedented economic sanctions driven by the G-7 countries might have long-lasting consequences unless we take joint action to resolve it," he wrote to Guedes.

Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who visited Moscow just days before the invasion, has kept Brazil neutral in the Ukraine crisis and has not condemned the invasion, drawing criticism from the Biden administration.

Bolsonaro expressed "solidarity" when he visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Feb 16 about a week before the invasion began.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Carlos Franca has said Brazil opposes the expulsion of Russia from the G-20 as sought by the United States.

"The most important thing at this time is to have all international forums, the G-20, WTO, FAO, functioning fully, and for that all countries need to be present, including Russia," Franca told a Senate hearing on March 25.