Ukrainians ask Panama to join sanctions blocking deposits and the Canal to Russian ships

Several dozen Ukrainians demonstrated in Panama to repudiate the Russian invasion and asked the Panamanian State to join the international sanctions against Russia, such as closing the passage to its commercial or war ships and its capitals.

Carrying Ukrainian flags and banners that read “Putin take your hands off UKRAINE” or “Go Home Putin”, the Ukrainians gathered in a park in the capital, where they also thanked Panama for condemning the Russian military action and supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty.

The Ukrainian Iryna Zhuravlova, who assured that she has a son fighting on the front for her country, affirmed that they ask the Government of Laurentino Cortizo to join “international sanctions against Russian capital or ships”.

In a manifesto delivered to the press, the Ukrainians in Panama asked the “Panamanian people” and President Cortizo “to consider the possibility of closing the passage to Russian commercial and military ships through the Panama Canal, until the war stops and all the invading troops return to their country”.

The intention is not to put Panama “in an unfavorable situation for its economy or free transit”, but that the actions taken by Turkey be replicated, by suspending the passage of Russian ships through the Dardanelles and Bosporus Strait, the protesters indicated in their letter.

For her part, Lilia Cherniak, a Ukrainian who was protesting in the Panamanian capital, demanded “not to the war” and stressed the democratic stability in force since 1991, when Ukraine became independent.

The Panama Canal maintains a neutrality treaty since 1977, which allows “both in time of peace and in time of war, that it remain safe and open for the peaceful transit of the ships of all nations on terms of entire equality”.

Panama condemned before the UN “the use of force and the violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine by the Russian Federation”, and advocated dialogue and negotiation for the lasting solution of conflicts.

Russia launched a military operation against Ukraine on February 24 and this Wednesday the Russian Army advanced with intense attacks in the south of the country, where it took control of Kherson, and where it practically blocks Mariupol, as well as in the east, where it ensures have seized to a large extent the coast of the Sea of ​​Azov.

All this one day before new negotiations with Kiev.

The invasion of Ukraine has, however, come at a cost to Russia, not only because of the unprecedented Western sanctions, but also because of the casualties it suffers in its ranks.