Ukraine Requests Mexico to Arrest Putin if He Attends Inauguration

The Ukrainian embassy in Mexico on August 7 urged the Mexican government to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he attends the inauguration of president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum on October 1.

The embassy called Putin a war criminal and expressed appreciation for the invitation extended to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to attend the ceremony.

“We trust that the Mexican government will comply with the international arrest warrant and hand over the aforementioned (Putin) to the United Nations judicial body in The Hague,” the embassy stated.

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin, citing his involvement in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia following Moscow’s invasion in early 2022. These actions have been classified as war crimes by the ICC.

Juan Ramón de la Fuente, who has been selected to be Sheinbaum’s foreign minister, clarified that it is “standard protocol” to invite leaders from all countries with which Mexico maintains diplomatic relations, including both Russia and Ukraine.

Despite Russia not being a member of the ICC, Mexico is. Nonetheless, the two countries have been enhancing their diplomatic relationship. Putin congratulated Sheinbaum on her victory in June, referring to Mexico as Russia’s “historically friendly partner” in Latin America.

Sheinbaum, who is set to become Mexico’s first female president, achieved a historic victory in the general election on June 2 and will commence her six-year term in October. Both Putin and Zelensky were among the world leaders who extended their congratulations to her following her electoral success.

The Ukrainian embassy’s call for Putin’s arrest adds a layer of complexity to the diplomatic proceedings surrounding the inauguration. While inviting leaders from various nations is a routine aspect of diplomatic etiquette, the presence of a leader with an outstanding ICC arrest warrant poses a significant challenge.

Image: atlanticcouncil.org

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