Marking the first visit to Kyiv by a Latin American leader during the ongoing war, Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday jointly denounced Russia’s “unprovoked, unjustified and illegal war of aggression” and called for the establishment of a joint Special Criminal Tribunal to punish those guilty of committing war crimes.
The two heads of state highlighted that their bilateral relations are characterised by an “absence of contradictions between them in approaches to solving global issues,” with Giammattei condemning the “unjustified war” and pledging his “total and absolute support” for Zelensky in “fighting and resisting with patriotism, courage, and honour.”
Giammattei, meanwhile, said in a press conference following their meeting, that Guatemala has “raised its voice” from the beginning of the conflict by promoting a “strong diplomatic offensive” urging the restoration of peace in the region. Following the February 24 invasion, the leader ordered the closure of the Guatemalan embassy in Moscow, breaking off all diplomatic ties.
En una visita histórica, hoy estoy aquí en #Ucrania, con el presidente @ZelenskyyUa para reafirmar el apoyo total de Guatemala y dar un mensaje contundente a las naciones:
— Alejandro Giammattei (@DrGiammattei) July 25, 2022
¡En lugar de enfrentarnos, debe prevalecer la paz y la armonía entre las naciones!#NoALaGuerra🇬🇹 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/VHtv5uFghs
To this end, Zelensky thanked his Guatemalan counterpart for his “clear and consistent position” in support of Ukraine’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Additionally, in his speech, Giammattei emphasised upon the significance of adhering to the United Nations Charter “to preserve future generations from the scourge of war,” as he called on the “nations of the world, here from kyiv” to stand united “against all expressions of war.”
He urged “peace-loving” countries to “not tolerate the intolerable, nor be indifferent, much less remain silent because this dehumanises us,” adding that there is an urgent need to restore peace and put an end to such confrontations, stressing that “every day that this conflict lengthens, the future of a child is shortened, lives are lost and more hope is needed in humanity.”
Expreso mi más sentida solidaridad con las familias de Ucrania que han sido víctimas de este injustificado y terrible flagelo que solo ha dejado pérdidas humanas y destrucción. El conflicto debe parar, reitero el llamado a la paz.#NoALaGuerra 🇬🇹🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/G0NDMnuNN4
— Alejandro Giammattei (@DrGiammattei) July 26, 2022
Furthermore, he expressed his country’s willingness to extend humanitarian assistance to overcome the “devastating consequences” of the war and restore civilian infrastructure and facilities.
The two leaders also highlighted the rise in inflation, living costs, and poverty across the world as a result of the war and raised concern about “a food crisis that could mean the death of millions of people.” Both Giammattei and Zelensky blamed the Kremlin for aggravating the crises by undermining “existing political and economic relations in the world.”
To this end, Giammattei hailed the UN- and Turkey-brokered deal last week to unblock Ukrainian grain exports from ports in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, and lambasted Moscow’s occupation of them as “unacceptable.”
Guatemala visit to Ukraine its a demonstration of solidarity with the government and their citizens.
— Mario Búcaro (@MarioBucaroGT) July 25, 2022
The signature of a visa free agreement and cooperation between academies, its just the first step to open opportunities for trade, investment and development between our countries https://t.co/wHvGZYSq19
Moreover, Zelensky also pointed to the “overt gas war that Russia is waging against a united Europe,” which is threatening energy security in the region ahead of a harsh winter spell. He condemned this “gas blackmail” as a “different form of terror” and called on partner nations to “do everything to limit Russian revenues.”
Giammattei’s visit comes against the backdrop of Zelensky’s invitation to him last month to “see first hand the damage done in Ukraine and to be able to tell the world about it.” It marks the first visit of a Guatemalan head of state to Kyiv in all of their bilateral diplomatic history, besides being the first visit by a Latin American leader since the invasion began in February.
In this respect, Zelensky said that it is “crucial that this visit takes place right now during the brutal and colonialist war of the Russian Federation against our people” and expressed his gratitude to Giammattei for his “principled stance” on the issue.
Against this backdrop, the duo reaffirmed to continue joint efforts in international fora aimed at “further isolating Russia and increasing the price for this war and destabilisation of people’s lives.” To this end, they both lauded the sanctions regime against Russia.
Leaders with conviction & vision band together in the face of all challenges. We're proud to see our country's tremendous friend & supporter @DrGiammattei with @ZelenskyyUA on the front lines of the fight for freedom in #Ukraine. #Taiwan🇹🇼 & ally #Guatemala🇬🇹 #StandWithUkraine🇺🇦! https://t.co/u3AcRBXDJc
— 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) July 26, 2022
Besides a strong bonhomie over the Russia-Ukraine issue, the pair also expressed interest in expanding bilateral cooperation in fields of education, science and technology, tourism, consular relations, trade in agricultural commodities, and boosting industrial partnerships.
Furthermore, the Ukrainian President invited his Guatemalan counterpart to attend the Crimea Platform Summit to be held in Kyiv next month, which aims to build international pressure on the Kremlin over its “illegal” annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014.
In fact, following their meeting, Zelensky reiterated that his country will formally celebrate all important and historic dates of state formation this year despite an ongoing “full-scale Russian aggression,” including Ukraine’s Independence day, its Day of Statehood, and the day of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus.
Zelenskyy posted a photo with President of the Republic of Guatemala Alejandro Giammattei:
— News from Ukraine (@uasupport999) July 25, 2022
“Thank you Alejandro Giammatte for your visit, for supporting Ukraine and the rights of our people to freedom and independence!” Zelensky wrote
The world united in support of Ukraine 💪 pic.twitter.com/kCnpRwcv2G
However, although Zelensky praised Giammattei for acting as a bridge between Kyiv and Latin America, the Guatemalan leader has been criticised back home for neglecting other pressing domestic issues, including human rights and the fight against corruption.
For instance, Carolina Jiménez, the president of the Washington Office on Latin America, has asserted that “the entire world knows the way in which President Alejandro Giammattei has been eroding democracy and promoting impunity in his country. One trip to Ukraine is not going to change that reality.”
Nevertheless, this historic visit certainly marks a watershed moment of camaraderie in the two nations’ bilateral diplomatic bonds. Guatemala’s firm expression of solidarity is yet another integral cog in Ukraine’s global outreach efforts.