Mercosur refuses to allow Zelenski to speak during the Paraguay summit

First modification: 07/21/2022 – 12:20

Since the beginning of the war, Ukrainian President Zelensky has participated in many international forums and parliaments around the world by videoconference. It will not be the case in Mercosur. “There was no consensus,” Paraguayan Deputy Foreign Minister Raúl Cano told the press.

Last week, Zelenski had contacted Mario Abdo, the Paraguayan president, to ask for a space for virtual participation during the Mercosur summit. Paraguay, host of the event, has the rotating presidency of the regional bloc.

Without specifying which countries had opposed the intervention of the Ukrainian president, the Paraguayan government reported that all the bloc’s decisions were taken unanimously.

In the case of Brazil, its far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, signaled at the start of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine that his country would remain “neutral.” Bolsonaro, let us remember, had traveled to Moscow to meet with Vladimir Putin days before the February 24 invasion.

For his part, Argentine President Alberto Fernández went to the Kremlin, also to meet with Putin, in early February.

Following the outbreak of war, Brazil and Argentina refrained from supporting a statement by the Organization of American States condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.