Zelensky urges Mexico to help deliver peace plan, organize summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday urged Mexico’s Congress to organize a summit in Latin America and help deliver his peace plan in an attempt to end the war with Russia. 

On Thursday, Zelensky addressed Mexican lawmakers in Congress via a video link with the help of an interpreter. He thanked the country for backing several U.N. resolutions criticizing the invasion of Ukraine and for humanitarian aid.

“Your vote in the U.N. General Assembly and other international organizations is very important. It is the vote to defend the principles and objectives of the U.N. Charter and therefore to defend the territorial integrity of Ukraine and all nations of the world,” Zelensky said. 

During his speech, Zelensky urged Mexico to show its “leadership” by contributing to his “formula for peace,” which includes Russia withdrawing all troops from Ukrainian territory. 

"I think with Mexico's help, this could be much quicker," Zelenskiy told the lawmakers.

In February, Zelensky called for a summit of Latin American leaders in order to help make the case for peace, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity, reported Reuters. 

"Ukraine has already proposed to the Latin American community to organize a special summit and show its unity and position on important global principles of territorial integrity, peace, and respect between peoples," Zelensky said.

Mexico has previously stated that it wants to remain neutral in the war between the Kremlin and Kyiv. Despite voting for the U.N. resolutions, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has criticized arm shipments from Europe to Ukraine and has declined to impose economic sanctions on Russia.

“How easy it is to say, ’Here, I’ll send you this much money for weapons,” López Obrador said at the time. “Couldn’t the war in Ukraine have been avoided? Of course, it could.”

Zelensky addressed the Mexican lawmakers at the same time that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is on a tour of Latin America to meet with officials in Brazil, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba.