Russia’s invasion of Ukraine this Thursday, February 24, has aroused countless reactions at the international level. In Latin America, several heads of state and foreign ministers have made public their rejection of President Vladimir Putin’s decision and have not hesitated to denounce the violation of international law. Others, close to Moscow, have expressed their support for Putin.
The leaders of several Latin American countries have spoken out in recent hours regarding the attacks by Russian troops in Ukraine. While Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Chile called for the withdrawal of the military, other nations have condemned the use of force against the Ukrainian population.
In a statement, the president of Colombia, Ivan Duke, called for the withdrawal of the Russian military from Ukraine. “We categorically reject the war and join all the voices of the international community that today call for the prompt withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.”
Duque also supported the sanctions that have been imposed on Russian officials, the military, banks and companies. “Colombia will actively participate in all the corresponding multilateral forums to seek greater international coordination that allows for humanitarian responses to this serious situation and that also reflects the need to apply all the corresponding sanctions,” he said.
On her Twitter account, the Colombian Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marta Lucía Ramírez, described the invasion as “absurd colonialist nostalgia.” “This premeditated and unjustified aggression is a threat to world peace,” she said.
Colombia categorically rejects the premeditated and unjustified attack that has been perpetrated against the Ukrainian people by Russia, which not only threatens its sovereignty but also threatens world peace. pic.twitter.com/1IbJcPsIiR
– Ivan Duke 🇨🇴 (@IvanDuque) February 24, 2022
This same Thursday, the president of Mexico Andrés Manuel López Obrador called for dialogue, while Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard took a tougher stance, condemning the invasion and demanding that Russia end its military operations in Ukraine.
“Mexico strongly condemns this invasion and calls for an immediate ceasefire that allows a diplomatic solution and that protects the population and avoids suffering,” Ebrard said in a video he shared on his Twitter account.
Earlier, Ebrard said that diplomatic relations with Russia were maintained and that Mexico would be against the use of force and against questioning the integrity of a country, “regardless of whether it is Ukraine.”
They condemn “unilateral aggression” and urge dialogue and a ceasefire
For his part, the president of Dominican RepublicLuis Abinader stated that Russia’s “unilateral aggression” against Ukraine violates the basic norm of peaceful coexistence among nations and accused his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, of not respecting Ukraine’s political, cultural and territorial identity.
“We strongly call on the Russian government to withdraw its troops from Ukraine and return to the negotiating table, in order to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict,” the Dominican president said on his Twitter account.
The elected president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, said on his Twitter account that “Russia has chosen war as a means of resolving conflicts. From Chile we condemn the invasion of Ukraine, the violation of its sovereignty and the illegitimate use of force. Our solidarity will be with the victims and our humble efforts with peace.”
Russia has opted for war as a means of resolving conflicts. From Chile we condemn the invasion of Ukraine, the violation of its sovereignty and the illegitimate use of force. Our solidarity will be with the victims and our humble efforts with peace.
— Gabriel Boric Font (@gabrielboric) February 24, 2022
Also, Foreign Minister Carolina Valdivia said that Chile will support the sanctions approved by the UN Security Council. “Our country calls on Russia to withdraw troops from it and especially to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine,” she said.
Others who condemned the Russian invasion were the foreign minister of Ecuador, Juan Carlos Holguín, who said that Putin had violated international law. Also the Foreign Ministry Peru expressed his concern and called for a cessation of hostilities, and the foreign minister of Paraguay He called for dialogue and a ceasefire.
Bolsonaro disavows his vice president for condemning the Russian invasion in Ukraine
While the condemnations and rejections for the Russian move in Ukraine have not been long in coming in Latin America, one of Russia’s strongest allies in the region, Cubahas not directly addressed the invasion.
However, on the eve of the attacks announced by Putin, the Cuban government criticized the United States for imposing “the progressive expansion of NATO towards the borders of the Russian Federation” and called for a diplomatic solution.
Venezuela rejects the aggravation of the crisis in Ukraine as a result of the violation of the Minsk agreements by NATO. We call for the search for peaceful solutions to settle the differences between the parties. Dialogue and non-interference are guarantees of peace. pic.twitter.com/Y7N1lwZfpi
– Nicolas Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) February 24, 2022
Meanwhile, the foreign minister of VenezuelaFélix Plasencia supported the Russian president’s fight against what he said was NATO’s desire for war.
Later, this Thursday, the Venezuelan government called “to return to the path of diplomatic understanding” in the face of the crisis generated in Ukraine. “Venezuela calls for a return to the path of diplomatic understanding through effective dialogue between the parties involved in the conflict to avoid escalation,” the Executive said in a statement released by President Nicolás Maduro on his Twitter account.
For his part, the president of BrazilJair Bolsonaro, who recently met with Putin in Moscow, did not mention the Ukraine crisis in his speech to supporters on Thursday. Bolsonaro came under heavy criticism from the United States, saying during his visit that he was “in solidarity with Russia.”
In contrast, Brazilian Vice President Hamilton Mourao condemned the military invasion and said that economic sanctions on Russia may not be enough and that the West may need to use force against this country. Mourao also called for a cessation of hostilities and said that he would act as a member of the Security Council to find a peaceful solution.
But his words cost him dearly, as Bolsonaro disavowed him shortly after for having condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “Whoever talks about these issues is called Jair Messias Bolsonaro and whoever has doubts, consult the Constitution,” said the president, along with Foreign Minister Carlos França, during his weekly broadcast on social networks.
and the president of ArgentinaAlberto Fernández also recently visited Moscow, which for some analysts represents a seduction game between Russia and Latin American countries amid tensions with Ukraine.
With Reuters, EFE and local media