Zelenskyy to visit Latin America for first time

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to embark on his inaugural official visit to Latin America, as the prominent Argentine publication La Nación reported,  citing undisclosed sources within the Ukrainian embassy. Zelenskyy’s itinerary includes attending the inauguration ceremony of Argentina’s newly elected president, Javier Milei. 

“The president’s visit is a strong political gesture towards the region: it is Zelenskyy’s first trip to Latin America since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine last February,” local media TN wrote.

The Ukrainian president was on the list of invitees to Javier Milei’s inauguration. Argentina expected him to refuse the trip. However, journalists claim that Zelenskyy will still arrive in Buenos Aires on the morning of December 10. Security protocols during the presence of the President of Ukraine in Argentina will be strengthened due to possible threats from Russia.

A number of political leaders from different countries of the world will attend the inauguration. Several politicians have already planned a meeting with Zelenskyy, journalists say. President of Uruguay Luis Lacalle, President of Paraguay Santiago Peña, President of Ecuador Daniel Noboa, President of Chile Gabriel Boric, King of Spain Felipe VI, Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán, as well as ministers and foreign ambassadors, are expected at the event.

The President of Argentina invited the President of Ukraine to the country during a telephone conversation after winning the elections. At the time, Millais also proposed that Argentina host a possible regional summit on the war.

Argentina elected a new president – the libertarian Javier Milei – on November 20. The politician received almost 56% of the citizens’ votes. Milei entered Argentine politics only two years ago. However, he immediately gained popularity. Despite conflicting plans for changes in the country’s economy, the position of the newly elected Argentinian president regarding Ukraine is unambiguous. The politician repeatedly expressed support for Ukrainians in the fight against the Russians. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Argentine joined one of the events supporting Ukraine.

“For Ukraine, the election of a new president can mean positive changes. However, it is also worth waiting for the appointment of the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. The next months will show what is really worth waiting for,” says Jorge Danylyshyn, the UWC Vice President for South and Central America (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Venezuela, Central America) and President of the Board of Directors of the Ukrainian Cultural Society “PROSVITA” in the Argentine Republic. “One thing is a political campaign, during which there are many promises, and quite another – state policy, coming to power, when the president has to decide and then interests play a role, not recitations.”