MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Wednesday said he would be unable to attend an event in support of Ukrainian victims of the conflict with Russia, but would send a video condemning Moscow’s invasion.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday invited Lopez Obrador to the event he is convening with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to raise funds for Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced people.
The invitation came amid criticism that Mexico has been too accommodating to Moscow.
Lopez Obrador, a leftist, said he would be traveling to the Pacific Ocean archipelago of Islas Marias on Saturday and unable to take part, though Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard will represent him during the teleconference.
“I’m going to record (a video) and send it with our position, which is to condemn the invasion,” Lopez Obrador said during his daily morning press conference.
Lopez Obrador, who has sought to remain neutral in the conflict, noted that Mexico had itself suffered invasions at the hands of Spain, France and the United States.
The Mexican leader said the United Nations “didn’t do its job well” in regards to Ukraine, calling the war a failure of politics and urging dialogue.
He also spoke out against suggestions that pro-Russian politicians inside Mexico’s Congress should have their U.S. travel visas revoked.
Earlier this week Texas lawmaker Vicente Gonzalez urged the Biden administration to cancel the visas of Mexican legislators who formed a new “Mexico-Russia Friendship Committee”.
Lopez Obrador said it would not be “fair” or “rational” to suspend their visas, and his government would send a diplomatic note of protest if it occurred.
“That is a return to the Cold War, to the times of persecution and exclusion and authoritarianism,” he said. “I don’t agree with that.”
(Reporting by Ana Isabel Martinez and Valentine Hilaire; Writing by Drazen Jorgic; Editing by Sandra Maler)
