If Panama does indeed really want to emerge from second tier status on the world stage, NOW has never been more of a watershed moment to do so. As the rest of the DEMOCRATIC and 1st World nations step up to clog and stifle the ability for Russia to continue it’s draconian and ancient minded attack on a sovereign nation of Ukraine, will Panama use the biggest tool at it’s disposal to join the fight?  Or is Nito and his cabinet going top continue to slimy Panamanian tradition of lining their own pockets and interests?   

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/220302/ucranianos-panama-exhortan-cortizo-cerrar-paso-buques-rusos-canal

A group of Ukrainians residing in Panama sent a letter to the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo, asking him to consider closing the passage to Russian commercial and military ships through the Panama Canal, until Russia stops its war with Ukraine.

The Ukrainians, who this Wednesday moved to the Urraca Park to demonstrate for the situation in their country, pointed out that the sanctions that countless countries have implemented against the aggressor (Russia), which threatens to start a nuclear war and end the world , are of vital importance to stop the massacre and the war.

Therefore, they ask Panama to join the countries that carried out sanctions to stop a dictator – referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin – who “violated all international human rights standards, principles of self-determination of peoples and peaceful coexistence” .

“For these reasons, we urge the Panamanian people and you, as president, 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 your country” , reads the letter.

According to the Ukrainians, with these recommendations they do not intend to commit Panama to any unfavorable situation for its economy or the free transit of ships with this action, but rather to avoke the recent example that the Turkish government has made, by suspending the passage of Russian ships through the Dardanelles Strait and through the Bosphorus, as a political and diplomatic measure.

At the same time, they thanked the Panamanian people and government for their solidarity with the people of Ukraine, through their position of condemning military aggression, the use of force and the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty by the Russian Federation. , expressed by the Panamanian ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Markova Concepción, at the eleventh special emergency session of the UN General Assembly.

“We are aware that despite the heroic struggle of our people during seven days of war, defending our lives, the lives of our children, our homes and our country, said condemnation of the armed aggression expressed in the ambassador’s speech, in representation of Panama, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, during the special session, is a very important act on the part of the international community for the understanding of our situation in the whole world”, said the Ukrainians residing in Panama.

Talks 

The second round of negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations on a possible ceasefire in Ukraine will be held tomorrow, Thursday, Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said today.

“We are waiting for you tomorrow, you are already on your way,” Medinski told Russian public television from Brest, on the border with Poland and Ukraine, which will host the second meeting between Moscow and Kiev.

Until this February 28, the United Nations had counted the death of 136 civilians in attacks, but assured that the real figures could be much higher.