AMLO: Mexico will not send weapons to Ukraine, but humanitarian aid

Andrés Manuel López Obrador assured that his government will not send weapons to Ukraine as was requested through a letter by legislators from the European country. The president was blunt in saying that Mexico will not support in this way, but it will do so with humanitarian aid and protection for citizens to the extent possible.

During the closing of the morning press conference this Friday, March 4, the president launched: “We do not send weapons anywhere. We are pacifists. He will be given protection and humanitarian aid”, after being questioned about what response he would give to the request.

In a letter delivered by Ambassador Oksana Dramaretska to Senate legislators and addressed to its president Olga Sánchez Cordero, Volodímir Zelenskyy’s parliament urgently requested military support. Among his specific requests were: anti-tank guided weapons, grenade launchers, bulletproof helmets and shawls.

“We believe that only massive military support from our allies can help us (to) push back the enemy. We are fighting the battles every second in almost every corner of Ukraine. If you can provide any other kind of military and humanitarian assistance, we would be very grateful,” the statement read.

SRE could send a second plane for Mexican families

Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard assured that he has the authorization of President López Obrador to coordinate, if necessary, a second flight and bring to Mexico national citizens and families who are in Ukrainian territory.

“If necessary, yes there would be (another flight). If it is required to go for Mexican families that we have to bring. We are going to continue operating from the border between Romania and Ukraine since Kyiv has increasingly difficult conditions and there are other families arriving,” said Ebrard.

Within the framework of the arrival of the Air Force plane to Mexico City with crew members assisted as a result of the armed conflict, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the work carried out by the institutions and the diplomats Olga García and Guillermo Ordorica.

In total, 81 people have repatriated: 44 Mexicans, 28 Ukrainians, seven Ecuadorians, one Peruvian and one Australian.

No sanctions on Russia

In the same way, Ebrard reiterated Mexico’s position of not implementing unilateral sanctions against Russia, as well as its policy of non-intervention and intention of peaceful resolution of conflicts. The foreign minister assured that he will adhere to the United Nations protocols in case the body does impose punishments.

“Mexico has never applied unilateral sanctions against another country. Mexico is not going to participate in any type of non-multilateral sanctions approved by the UN Security Council. In that sense, there is no ambiguity”, commented the diplomat.

On Tuesday, March 1, López Obrador advanced it. Without ceasing to condemn the military invasion of the Russian army in Ukrainian territory, the president ruled out penalizing the government of Vladimir Putin directly. “We are not going to take any economic retaliation because we want to maintain good relations and we want to be in a position to be able to talk with the parties in conflict,” he said.