The upcoming inauguration of Mexico's president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum has become a focal point of international attention, as Ukraine calls for the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin should he attend the event. The Ukrainian embassy in Mexico made the request on Aug. 7, citing an international arrest warrant issued against Putin for alleged war crimes.
According to The Kyiv Independent, the Ukrainian embassy expressed gratitude to Mexico for inviting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the Oct. 1 ceremony, while also urging compliance with the arrest warrant. "We trust that the Mexican government will comply with the international arrest warrant and hand over the aforementioned [Putin] to the United Nations judicial body in The Hague," the embassy stated.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued the arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023, accusing him of war crimes related to the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia following Moscow's invasion in early 2022.
Juan Ramon de la Fuente, designated as Sheinbaum's foreign minister, explained that inviting leaders of all countries with which Mexico has diplomatic relations, including both Russia and Ukraine, is "standard protocol" for such events.
The situation is complicated by Mexico's ICC membership and its strengthening ties with Russia. Putin congratulated Sheinbaum on her June victory, referring to Mexico as Russia's "historically friendly partner" in Latin America.
Sheinbaum, set to become Mexico's first female president, secured a historic win in the general election on June 2 and will begin her six-year term in October. Both Putin and Zelenskyy were among the world leaders who extended their congratulations.
The Kyiv Independent also reported that according to Russia's Izvestia newspaper, Mexico has formally invited Putin to attend the inauguration. The newspaper cited the Mexican embassy in Russia as its source for this information.
