Mexican President Rejects Ukraine’s Request to Arrest Putin

Outgoing Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has rejected Ukraine’s request to arrest the Russian leader Vladimir Putin should the autocrat try to attend the inauguration of Mexico’s newly elected president that will be held in October.

“We cannot do this,” President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said, responding to the questions of reporters at a press conference. “It is not within our power,” he claimed, according to Reuters news agency.

Ukraine had been in contact with the Mexican government and asked them to arrest Putin in accordance with an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. This request from Ukraine came after Mexico sent out invitations to world leaders to attend the October 1st inauguration of president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.  

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued its arrest warrant for the Russian President that indicted Vladimir Putin back in March 2023.