Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has formally recognized Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions —Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, declaring them “integral parts” of the Russian Federation. In a letter sent on July 30 and co‑signed by Vice President Rosario Murillo, Ortega praised what he described as Russia’s “heroic battle against Ukrainian neo-Nazism supported by NATO,” and expressed solidarity with Russian military families as part of his regime’s alignment with Moscow.
The move places Nicaragua among a small group of nations openly endorsing Moscow’s widely condemned referendums and annexation, which most of the international community has declared illegal and void under international law. In doing so, Managua has deepened its status as one of Russia’s staunchest allies in Latin America.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry issued a strong protest, warning that any such recognition would constitute a gross violation of the UN Charter and General Assembly resolutions, and reserved the right to respond with proportionate measures if Nicaragua does not immediately deny the reports.
Ortega’s declaration builds on a longstanding Nicaragua‑Russia alliance: Managua has previously recognized Crimea, opened an honorary consulate in occupied Simferopol, and consistently voted with Russia in UN sessions condemning Western efforts to reverse Moscow’s territorial claims. By explicitly endorsing Russia’s territorial claims in Ukraine, Ortega has elevated diplomatic solidarity into a formal geopolitical statement. The development highlights Nicaragua’s further drift away from global consensus and underscores Moscow’s strategic reach into Central America.
