Consul Francisco Lasso: Ecuadorians will not require a Schengen visa to cross the Ukrainian border with other European countries

Francisco Lasso de la Torre is the honorary consul of Ukraine and has been in office for fifteen years. During these days he has been in contact with Ukrainians in the country, who are concerned about his relatives in the European country.

Ecuadorian in Ukraine: We were about 50 meters underground. We left with our backpack carrying food, water, documents and we stayed to wait.

He has also spoken with the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry about the transfer of compatriots to countries bordering Ukraine.

How many Ukrainians are in Ecuador?

Most Ukrainians are residents of the country. It is quite complex to know the number of Ukrainians, but it would be understood that there are about 300 to 500 in the whole country.

Have you talked with them about the conflict between Ukraine and Russia? What have they told you?

Everyone is concerned about the situation that Ukraine is going through due to the invasion, violence and aggression by Russia. They are very worried, as well as the families of Ecuadorian citizens who are in Ukraine.

How are you working from the Consulate, how often is communication with the Ukrainian Government?

Each of the countries that have their fellow citizens in Ukraine are responsible for ensuring their situation. In the case of Ukraine, as a country, the Government must protect both its nationals and foreigners who are living there.

Ecuadorians are found in these Ukrainian cities

Unfortunately, mobility is very restricted, at this time the airports are closed, some railways are closed, what is working and not in its entirety but sporadically is mobility through buses. In this sense, the mobility of any foreigner towards the borders of Europe in order to return to their countries becomes quite complex.

And the communications?

Communications are fine. They have been able to communicate with their relatives and are trying to get to safety in cities where Russian troops have entered. Everyone is worried about their relatives there.

Have there been cases of Ukrainians who have needed assistance in Ecuador? For example, that they have come for tourism and cannot return because of what is happening.

Luckily they have not required any assistance so far because the Ukrainian citizens who are here do not have any problems. There are no citizens trapped. And if there were such a situation, they would have the full support and protection of the Ukrainian Consulate in Ecuador.

Have you spoken with the Foreign Ministry of Ecuador?

Yes, with Foreign Ministry officials, with whom we have established certain actions for the protection of Ecuadorian citizens who are in Ukraine, mainly students. The Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry is making every effort to mobilize Ecuadorian students and citizens towards the borders with European countries. Some agreements have been reached with the countries of Europe.

What agreements?

They will not require a Schengen visa and they can calmly cross the border with the bordering countries and from there they could already be transported to Ecuador, if that were the case.

Are there Ecuadorians who have been transported?

I am not aware if there have been transfers, the situation is quite complex, there is no good mobility. The only thing that exists is road transport and it has many problems, unless an agreement is reached to create a humanitarian corridor and this mobilization of the different cities to the borders with European countries can really exist.

Ecuadorians in Ukraine will take refuge in bunkers as a last option; They demand a response from the Foreign Ministry

All this is dealt with through the diplomatic missions that communicate directly with the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and coordinate with some international organizations in order to safeguard the integrity of all foreigners in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, how often do Ukrainians visit Ecuador?

There are many Ukrainians who visit Ecuador because these relationships that are framed with the participation of Ecuadorian students in Ukraine open up a little the vision and knowledge of what Ecuador is in the world context, in South America and the tourist potential that we have in the country. (I)