No official public statement has been issued by St Vincent and the Grenadines government as of Friday, 25 February, on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
At Least 137 People Killed in the First Day of Russia’s Attack on Ukraine, Officials Say.
St Vincent Times was told that the island Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves had sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin; however, the letter’s contents have not been made public.
Vincentian students in Russia
An official at the Services Commission Department on Thursday indicated to St Vincent Times that seven Vincentian students are currently pursuing studies at the People Friendship University in Moscow.
There was no indication from the Department that the students were in need of any assistance.
St Vincent – Russia Diplomatic Relations
The diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines were established on September 17, 2002.
According to the Embassy of Russia in Guyana, SVG and Russia interact actively on multilateral and bilateral levels, have coincidence of views on international issues and realize exchange of personal messages on a high level.
On 26th October 2009, the Protocol of intentions on political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Commerce and Trade of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was signed to enhance political cooperation.
Since the year 2008, the Government of the Russian Federation has annually granted Vincentians scholarships for complete courses of higher education in Russian Universities.
During the International Film Festival, organized on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of Independence of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in November – December 2009, Russian movies were shown.
(February 14, 2014) there was an official ceremony to hand over medical equipment to the Central Hospital in Kingstown, St.Vincent and the Grenadines as a gift from the Government of the Russian Federation. The cost of the equipment produced in the City of Ekaterinburg is over 100 000 US Dollars.
In September 2018, SVG and Russia signed the terms of a visa waiver agreement.
St Vincent and the Grenadines ordered 100,000 doses of the Russian vaccine in July of 2021, it was hoped at the time that a successful roll-out could also give a much-needed boost to Russia’s flagging vaccine diplomacy campaign.
St Vincent and the Grenadines was the first island nation of the Caribbean to register Sputnik V.
In June of 2019 SVG broke the record as the smallest nation ever to sit on the UN Security Council.
CARICOM Issues statement
CARICOM to which SVG is a signatory issued a statement on the Russia – Ukraine conflict on Thursday 24 February.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) strongly condemns the military attacks and invasion of Ukraine by The Russian Federation and calls for the immediate and complete withdrawal of the military presence and cessation of any further actions that may intensify the current perilous situation in that country. The recognition by The Russian Federation of the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk represents a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.
The hostilities against Ukraine go counter to the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in the internal affairs of another sovereign state and the prohibition on the threat or use of force, and the peaceful resolution of disputes, which are the bedrock of this Community.
CARICOM maintains that the principles of universal respect and adherence to these norms and principles of international law are fundamental to the maintenance of the international system and global peace and security.
CARICOM calls on all parties involved to urgently embark on intensified diplomatic dialogue to immediately de-escalate hostilities and work towards sustainable peace.
