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Mexican President-elect declines Zelenskyy’s invitation to visit Ukraine

Mexico’s President-elect explained her decision, citing her focus on domestic responsibilities: “Our responsibility is here.” Meanwhile, Mexico invited the Russian president to the upcoming presidential inauguration despite his ICC arrest warrant.

byMaria Tril

18/09/2024

2 minute read

Mexico’s President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum. Credit: Chatham House

Mexican President-elect declines Zelenskyy’s invitation to visit Ukraine

Mexico’s President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum declined an invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Kyiv after taking office on 1 October, Fuser News reports.

Sheinbaum stated her intention to maintain a policy of non-intervention in foreign affairs, continuing the approach of her predecessor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Mexico maintains diplomatic relations with both Russia and Ukraine and adheres to a policy of neutrality regarding the war. Ukraine and the EU have pressured Mexico over its approach to Russia, especially after inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin to the upcoming presidential inauguration despite his ICC arrest warrant.

President Zelenskyy gave an interview to Mexican publication Excelsior, expressing hope that Mexico would officially visit Ukraine.

Sheinbaum rejected an invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Kyiv after her inauguration on 1 October. “Our responsibility is here. We will attend some international events that we consider important, but we will not travel much,” Sheinbaum said, emphasizing that her administration’s main task will be addressing domestic issues.

The President-elect reaffirmed Mexico’s commitment to maintaining diplomatic relations with all countries, with the exception of Ecuador. Sheinbaum referred to an incident at the Mexican embassy in Ecuador in April as a “violation of sovereignty.” According to Reuters, Mexico invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to Sheinbaum’s inauguration ceremony on 1 October.

The Ukrainian embassy in Mexico has called on local authorities to detain Putin if he visits, as Mexico recognizes the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). On 8 August, European Commission spokesperson Peter Stano said that the European Union had also urged Mexico to arrest Putin if he arrives in the country.

Mexico has rejected a request from Ukraine to arrest the Russian President if he attends the inauguration of Mexico’s next president on 1 October.

In March 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin on charges of abducting and forcibly deporting Ukrainian children to Russia. Since then, the Russian leader has avoided traveling to countries that have signed the Rome Statute due to the threat of arrest.

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