Ecuador Reverses Decision to Send Weapons to Ukraine

Ecuador’s Foreign Minister, Gabriela Sommerfeld, stated that the country will not send Soviet-era weapons to Ukraine, following President Daniel Noboa’s announcement of a potential exchange of Russian military equipment for new US weapons worth $200 million. The plan included the exchange of six Russian military helicopters, long-range rocket launchers, and air defense systems for modern weapons to combat drug trafficking. This decision led to Moscow’s ban on the import of Ecuadorian bananas and flowers, citing the detection of pests. However, Trade Minister Sonsoles Garcia announced that the Russian embargo on five banana exporting companies has been lifted, and Ecuador remains the world’s biggest banana exporter and top flower exporter. Nine out of 10 bananas imported by Russia come from Ecuador.