Ecuador Refuses to Supply Old Soviet Weapons to Ukraine

The Foreign Minister of Ecuador announced on Monday that the country no longer plans to send Soviet-era weapons to Ukraine. This was reported by the BBC.

In January, President Daniel Noboa stated that Ecuador had agreed to exchange Russian military equipment, which he described as "scrap metal," for new American weapons worth approximately $200 million, necessary for fighting drug cartels.

Ecuador had intended to send six Russian military helicopters, long-range missile systems, and air defense systems to the U.S., which would then be sent to Ukraine.

However, Russia threatened to impose an embargo on Ecuadorian bananas and flowers in response, citing the discovery of harmful substances in them. Ecuador is the largest banana exporter in the world and one of the major exporters of flowers, primarily roses. According to Russian media, 9 out of 10 bananas in Russia come from Ecuador.

On Friday, Ecuador's Trade Minister Sonsoles García announced that the Russian embargo on five banana-exporting Ecuadorian companies had been lifted.

Today, Foreign Minister Gabriela Zomerfeld informed a U.S. Congressional committee that Ecuador has reviewed its decision. "Ecuador will not send any military equipment to a country that is involved in an international armed conflict," AFP quoted the Foreign Minister as saying.