Latvia’s President Rinkēvičs Appeals: Arming Ukraine Crucial to Stop Russia’s Global Ambitions.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs is emphasizing the urgency of continuing to support Ukraine with weapons to contain Russia’s military ambitions. In an interview with The Associated Press, Rinkēvičs stressed that strong support for Ukraine is crucial for international and European peace. He warns that a Russian success in Ukraine could lead to Russia threatening other countries in the future.
West Must Protect Its Values
Rinkēvičs, inaugurated as the Latvian president in July, stated that the current support from NATO and EU countries for Ukraine has materialized despite initial disagreements. He notes that the EU is currently more divided regarding the Middle East than on the Ukraine issue. The President underscored the importance of supporting both Ukraine and Israel against attacks to protect “our values” and the international order.
He also mentioned the need to push for humanitarian pauses in the fighting in the Gaza Strip to assist Palestinian civilians. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the number of Palestinian civilian casualties due to Israeli retaliation for a Hamas attack has exceeded 11,000.
Russia’s Global Interference and Iran’s Support
Furthermore, Rinkēvičs expressed concern about the activities of the Russian mercenary group Wagner in Africa and Russia’s ties to Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. The President pointed out that Iran welcomes the current situation in the Middle East and supports Russia with weapons and equipment for its fight in Ukraine.
Latvia, which was part of the Soviet Union until 1991 and joined the EU and NATO in 2004, occupies a key position on the alliance’s eastern flank. Rinkēvičs, who served as Latvia’s foreign minister for 13 years, emphasized the importance of unity within the EU and NATO in the current geopolitical situation.
Image: Estonian Foreign Ministry, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, (no changes made)