Colombia’s President Rejects US Proposal to Supply Ukraine with Russian Weapons

On Tuesday, Colombia's President Gustavo Petro confirmed that Washington had suggested that his country transferred Russian-made military weapons to Ukraine, but the republic rejected this proposal.

"During a conversation with [US] General [Laura] Richardson and other US officials, I was told that due to [Colombia’s] inability to maintain [Russian-made weapons] in active service, they were ready to do so and send it to Ukraine," he said, answering to a question from TASS.

According to the president, his country's Russian-made military equipment is currently in poor technical condition, as there has been no opportunity to properly service it lately.

"We are not taking anyone’s side. We are on the side of peace. That is why not a single piece of Russian equipment on our territory, regardless of its technical condition, will be used in this conflict," Petro added.

Commander of US Southern Command Laura Richardson stated earlier that Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and six other Latin American countries have Russian military equipment in service and that Washington is working to "exchange it with American equipment, if those countries want to donate it to Ukraine."

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a press briefing in January that the US initiative has legal limitations, but that the Kremlin will monitor the issue closely.