President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum cited Mexico's foreign policy principles of peace to explain why she had rejected kyiv's invitation.
Mexican President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters she intends to pursue a policy of non-intervention in foreign affairs and added that she will not make a state visit to Ukraine.
Sheinbaum will replace the country's outgoing president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, her close ally, on October 1. Her landslide election victory in June set her up to become Mexico's first female president.
When asked by reporters about a possible visit to kyiv, she replied: “I don’t think so, I repeat, we act in accordance with the principles of foreign policy and the Constitution.”
“Our foreign policy is defined by the Constitution. It is very clear, dignified and peaceful. Seeking peaceful resolution of conflicts is the cornerstone of our foreign policy. This is our policy and it will not change,” Sheinbaum added.
The comment comes a week after Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky pledged to send a high-ranking state official to the new president's inauguration. In an interview with Mexican outlet Excelsior, Zelensky expressed hope that Sheinbaum would make an official visit to kyiv.
The president-elect also reaffirmed Mexico's commitment to maintaining diplomatic relations with all countries except Ecuador, following the cessation of diplomatic relations with the South American state earlier this year in the wake of a “violation of sovereignty.” In April, Obrador suspended relations following the arrest of Ecuador's former vice president at the Mexican embassy in that country by Quito police, who stormed the diplomatic compound after a months-long standoff.
“I will attend some international events that we consider important, but we will not travel much, our responsibility is there.” Sheinbaum concluded.
Mexico has taken a neutral stance on the Ukrainian conflict. The outgoing president is critical of US military aid to kyiv and Western sanctions against Moscow. In August, the country's authorities rejected a Ukrainian request to arrest Vladimir Putin if the Russian president landed in the Latin American country this autumn for the inauguration of its new head of state.
Last year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin in connection with the Ukraine conflict. Mexico is one of 124 countries that recognise the jurisdiction of the Hague-based institution.
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