Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to Mexico’s Congress for support in Ukraine’s war against Russia, during a speech that received a standing ovation. Zelensky’s plea comes as many Latin American countries have adopted a policy of non-intervention over the conflict in Ukraine, despite efforts led by the United States President Joe Biden to unite the global community in opposition to Russia’s invasion.

Zelensky emphasized the importance of Mexico’s vote in the UN General Assembly and other international organizations in defending the principles and objectives of the UN Charter, and thus the territorial integrity of Ukraine and all nations of the world. Despite the recent criticism of Western arms shipments into Kyiv by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Mexico has voted alongside the United States in UN resolutions calling for Russia to leave Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has been on a trip around Latin America to strengthen ties with regional allies, making stops in Cuba and Brazil. Lavrov’s visit to Brazil, where he met with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, drew criticism from White House national security spokesperson John Kirby. Lula has suggested that Kyiv should relinquish sovereignty claims over Crimea in exchange for the end of the conflict, a view that Kirby described as “simply misguided”.