Mexican President Stands Firm on Russian Military's Participation in Independence Parade

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador defended the inclusion of a Russian military contingent in a recent military parade, despite criticism due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. López Obrador stated that all countries with diplomatic relations were invited, including China, and attributed the outcry to his ongoing conflict with the media. Ukraine's Ambassador to Mexico condemned the participation, calling the Russian soldiers "war criminals." Mexico's continued purchase of Russian COVID-19 vaccines has also raised concerns among experts regarding their effectiveness against new variants.