The Russian embassy celebrated this Wednesday (January 25, 2023) that Colombia refused to donate Russian weapons to Ukraine after a request from the USA.
“We appreciate President Gustavo Petro’s statements that Russian military equipment used by the national army will not be shipped to Ukraine,” the Russian embassy said on Twitter.
Petro admitted on Jan. 24 that the United States had made such a request, but denied it because of a constitutional order “in the international arena” that obliges governments to promote “peace.” Speaking at the Latin American and Caribbean Summit (CELAC), Petro explained that a few years ago Colombia bought “Russian war material” whose “sustainability” is complicated since that country invaded Ukraine.
General Laura “Richardson and other people from the United States have asked me that we extradite them and that they take them to Ukraine to solve the problem of our inability to receive these active elements,” the left-wing president said. But “no such Russian weapon, which is useless on our country today, is used in this conflict today,” assured Petro when asked by a journalist.
Last week, the head of the US Southern Command suggested Latin American countries donate Russian equipment to Ukraine to replace with US arsenals. Richardson did not specify which countries are included in the request.
“Latin America, instead of playing to see which military bloc is left (…), must demand peace immediately. That the appropriate dialogues are established so that this war ends. We are with nobody, we are with peace,” explained Petro from Buenos Aires.
Colombia is Washington’s most important ally in the region. Both countries are working together in the failed fight against drug trafficking, which Petro has harshly criticized.
loves (afp, telemundo, blu radio)