MEXICO CITY, April 5 (Reuters) – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday invited Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to participate in an event in support of Ukrainian victims of the conflict with Russia, amid criticism that the Latin American country was. absorb Moscow.
The Canadian government said that during a phone call, Trudeau asked Lopez Obrador to participate in the “Stand up for Ukraine” campaign event on April 9 to raise funds for Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced persons. Trudeau is coordinating the event with European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen.
López Obrador tried to remain neutral in the conflict and refused to impose sanctions on Russia.
Although his government supported a UN vote to urge Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine, it also criticized Europe for sending weapons to other countries, as was the case with Ukraine.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Mexico, Oksana Dramatskaya, posted photos of dead bodies in the streets on Sunday and tweeted to Lopez Obrador: “Do you really want to continue friendly relations with the perpetrators of genocide in the Kremlin next? Russia is on trial, we need Mexico’s support.”
Lopez Obrador has not publicly commented on the tweet.
Dramaretska made this post after the bodies of civilians shot at point-blank range were found in the Ukrainian city of Bucha.
The Canadian government said López Obrador and Trudeau also discussed their concerns about the humanitarian impact of the conflict and the global challenges it creates, including those related to energy and food security. (Additional reporting by Dave Graham. Additional reporting by David Leungren; translation by Adriana Barrera)
