The Conference was attended by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, the deputies of Ukraine, representatives of parliaments of 13 Latin American and Caribbean countries, embassies of these countries, as well as representatives of the Central American Parliament. 

Opening the Conference, Ruslan Stefanchuk thanked the guests for their courage, emphasizing that their arrival in Kyiv during the war was an important manifestation of support for Ukraine in its struggle for independence.

The representatives of the parliaments of Latin American and Caribbean countries, in turn, expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people, support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, and condemnation of Russian aggression.

President of the Senate of the National Assembly of Belize, Carolyn Ann Trench-Sandiford, in her speech, pointed out the need to comply with the norms of international law, condemning Russia's unprovoked aggression against Ukraine. She called Russia's actions, including the occupation of Ukrainian territories, a blatant violation of the UN Charter and the principles of international security. She highlighted that Belize supports the UN resolution of March 2, 2022, which condemns the aggressor's actions and calls for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Separately, Carolyn Ann Trench-Sandiford emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire, the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine, and the restoration of its internationally recognized borders. The Senate’s President of the Parliament of Belize also expressed deep concern about the humanitarian consequences of the war, in particular the violence suffered by women and children, and the nuclear threats from Russia.

She also underlined the importance of the safe functioning of Ukrainian sea corridors for the transportation of grain and called for the release of all Ukrainians illegally detained by Russia and the return of Ukrainian children to their homeland. She expressed hope for a peaceful resolution of the conflict through negotiations and noted that her country would remain an active supporter of international law and peace.

Member of the Argentine delegation to the MERCOSUR Parliamentary Assembly, Ivan Ezequiel Dubois Padrone, expressed his strong support for Ukraine, condemning the Russian aggression as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He stressed that the invasion of Ukraine is an attack not only on one country but also on all democracies in the world, calling it an act of imperialism and a violation of human values. The Argentine delegation reaffirmed its solidarity with Ukraine and its people.

Damares Regina Alves, Senator of the Federal Senate of the National Congress of Brazil, pointed out Brazil’s condemnation of Russian aggression against Ukraine and violence by the aggressor. She emphasized that the people of Brazil strongly support Ukraine and approve the Peace Formula presented by the President of Ukraine. The close ties between our countries were also noted, as Brazil is home to over a million Ukrainian emigrants which are a significant part of the country’s society.

Senator of the National Congress of the Republic of Chile, Head of the Friendship Group with Ukraine in the Chilean Senate, José Manuel Ismael Edwards Silva, stressed the importance of the return of Ukrainian children, the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine, and the isolation of the Russian Federation at the international level. He also stated full support for the Peace Formula of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Colombian delegation presented a resolution on the establishment of an interparliamentary friendship group between Ukraine and Colombia. Senator of the Congress of the Republic of Colombia, José Luis Pérez Ojuela, accentuated the importance of protecting the territorial integrity of Ukraine and supporting a just peace that will allow the economic and social development of the country.

Deputy of the Chamber of Deputies of the General Congress of the United Mexican States, Mariana Guadalupe Jiménez Zamora, emphasized that “every life lost in Ukraine is a wound for the whole world, and the destroyed homes and suffer of children are a pain for the Latin American peoples.” She stressed that neutrality in this conflict is unacceptable, as it is a struggle between freedom and tyranny. The Mexican delegation expressed its readiness to support Ukraine in its post-war reconstruction, contributing to the restoration of schools, hospitals, infrastructure and the economy.

Arsenii Pushkarenko, one of the initiators of the Conference organization and Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation, thanked the guests for such an important act of solidarity as a visit to Ukraine, for the courage and support of the Ukrainian people.

He presented the project Communiqué of the Parliamentary Conference "Ukraine - Latin American and Caribbean States: Cooperation for the Future."

The Deputy Chairman of the Committee emphasized the importance of working with the countries of the Global South, especially with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. According to him, these regions are strategically important for Ukraine in both a political and economic context. The parliamentarian drew attention to the fact that the lack of sufficient information about the events in Ukraine creates opportunities for Russian propaganda.

He also stressed that the first-ever parliamentary Conference of Ukraine and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean is a systematic step to strengthen relations. Separately, Arsenii Pushkarenko noted that the states of the region, despite certain economic ties with Russia, consistently support Ukraine in all key UN resolutions related to the protection of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The parliamentarian emphasized that the Conference became not only a platform for deepening inter-parliamentary cooperation but also the first link to form a new page in relations between Ukraine and the states of the Global South.

Oleksandr Merezhko, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation, in turn, highlighted the historical significance of the event. "This is evidence of solidarity and support for Ukraine from the peoples of Latin America in its fight against Russian aggression. Representatives of the region's parliaments spoke out for a just peace based on President Zelensky's Peace Formula, the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations," he noted.

The Chairman of the Committee also highlighted the importance of the Communiqué, which considers all key aspects of cooperation and support for Ukraine. According to him, the document is a moral and political expression of the position of parliamentarians of the region who seek to help Ukraine bring a just peace closer.

"Parliamentarians speak not only on their behalf but also as representatives of their peoples. Their support is extremely important for Ukraine," Oleksandr Merezhko emphasized. He also underlined that the Conference demonstrated a very clear position of Latin American countries, in particular their parliamentarians, aimed at supporting Ukraine and doing everything to stop Russian aggression.

After discussion, the conference participants adopted the Communiqué of the Parliamentary Conference "Ukraine - Latin American and Caribbean States: Cooperation for the Future".