President Javier Milei's government has backtracked on its fierce support for Ukraine in the international arena, shifting its stance in the wake of the United States’ realignment on the conflict.
On Monday, Argentina’s diplomatic corps modified its longstanding position on the conflict and abstained from supporting a United Nations resolution that condemned Russian aggression.
The proposed statement called on Russian military forces to be withdrawn from Ukrainian territory “immediately, completely and unconditionally.” Despite supporting similar lines in the past, Argentina refused to back the resolution.
The text, which reiterates the “commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” eventually passed with 93 votes in favour, 18 against and 65 abstentions.
Laying bare Trump’s new position on the conflict, Washington sided with Moscow, as well as Russian allies Belarus, North Korea and Sudan, to vote against the European-backed text marking third anniversary of the conflict.
Also voting against were Israel, Nicaragua and Colombia. Argentina abstained, as did the nations from the BRICS bloc (Brazil, India, China and South Africa).
The text – which won far less support compared to previous resolutions on the war – strongly criticises Russia, and emphasises the inviolability of Ukraine’s borders.
The Foreign Ministry in Buenos Aires was forced to change its foreign policy course after US President Donald Trump last week called the Ukrainian leader a “dictator” and began thawing relations with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Argentina’s move came despite the longstanding ties between Milei and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The duo met little over a month ago, on January 22, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, with the Argentine leader reiterating his support for the war-torn nation.
They also spoke last December over the telephone.
Last June, Milei took part in a peace summit in Switzerland, during which he expressed “support for the people of Ukraine” on behalf of the Argentine people.
“As defenders of the idea of freedom, we repudiate any form of violence, whether between individuals, but in particular we repudiate war as an illegitimate mechanism for settling conflicts between nations,” said the President at the time.
– TIMES/NA/AFP
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