Nicaragua to recognize Russia's annexation of Ukrainian regions

President Daniel Ortega wrote about this in a letter to Putin on July 30, according to the local newspaper El 19 Digital.

He expressed support for the "heroic battle that Russia is waging against Ukrainian neo-Nazism, which is supported by NATO." 

If this statement becomes official, Nicaragua could become the first country to officially recognize Russia’s annexation of the four Ukrainian regions in 2022.

The Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry has not yet commented on Ortega’s statement.

Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council and former president Dmitry Medvedev has responded to Nicaragua’s statement, according to Russian state propaganda agency TASS.

“Russia appreciates Nicaragua’s decision to recognize the DPR, LPR, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions as part of the Russian Federation,” he said.

• Back in 2020, Nicaragua opened an honorary consulate in occupied Simferopol. After that, the Verkhovna Rada approved the National Security and Defense Council’s decision to impose sanctions against the country.

• In July 2021, Nicaragua and the Russian occupation authorities of Crimea signed an agreement on trade and economic cooperation.