EU Urges Mexico to Arrest Putin

The European Commission has formally urged the Mexican government to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin should he attend the inauguration of President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum on October 1. Peter Stano, the Commission's spokesperson for foreign affairs, emphasized that Mexico, as a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since 2005, is legally obligated to comply with an international arrest warrant for Putin, who is wanted for war crimes related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Stano highlighted Mexico's participation in a recent peace summit in Switzerland, where there was a consensus on the need for Russia to cease its military actions in Ukraine. He noted that Mexico has consistently aligned with the international community in condemning Russian aggression through various United Nations votes. This call for action aligns with Ukraine's own demands for Mexico to fulfill its obligations under international law regarding Putin's potential visit. The Ukrainian Embassy in Mexico reiterated its expectation that the Mexican government would comply with the ICC's arrest warrant, emphasizing the importance of accountability for war crimes. While all 27 EU member states are ICC members, Russia is not, and Ukraine, although not a member, has allowed the ICC to investigate crimes committed on its territory since late 2013. Sheinbaum, who was elected as Mexico's first female president in June, is a close ally of the current leftist leader, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The invitation for Putin to attend the inauguration was first reported by the Russian newspaper Izvestia, but neither the Mexican foreign ministry nor the Russian authorities have commented on the situation.