President of Ecuador confirms refusal to transfer weapons to Ukraine
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa confirmed that his country will not supply the United States with its outdated military equipment, which was later planned to be transferred to Ukraine, reported by CNN Español on Feb. 22.
“To our surprise, the United States has publicly stated that this equipment will be used in the armed conflict in Ukraine, and we do not want to be part of it,” Noboa said.
In January, it was reported that Ecuador would send six Soviet military helicopters, long-range missile launchers and air defense systems to the United States. In exchange, the country was to receive modern weapons to counter powerful drug trafficking cartels.
The representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, stated that “such a reckless decision was made by the Ecuadorian side under strong pressure from external stakeholders.”
A week and a half later, Russia imposed a partial ban on banana imports and a full ban on cloves from Ecuador.
On Feb. 17, Russian Ambassador to Ecuador Vasily Sprinchan said in a commentary to Russian propaganda media that Ecuador had canceled its decision to supply the United States with Soviet equipment.
According to the Russian diplomat, President Daniel Noboa allegedly decided after a meeting with him that due to his country’s neutral status and membership in the UN, he “cannot afford to be drawn into the conflict.”
According to CNN Español, Noboa said that Russia is “right” and they do not agree with its supplies to Ukraine.
The Ecuadorian president also stated that Russia is the third most important trading partner for his country. He added that they do not want to violate any international treaties.
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