Latvia's parliament pledges support to Ukraine until victory

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Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs: “We have to do as much as possible and even more”

Photo: Markku Ulander / Lehtikuva / IMAGO

For a good two years, Latvia has been supporting Ukraine in its resistance against the Russian attack.

In a special session, Parliament has now vowed that it should remain this way in the future.

The MPs agreed that Ukraine would be supported until it wins.

"We have to do as much as possible and even more," said President Edgars Rinkēvičs on Thursday in his speech to the MPs of the Baltic EU and NATO country in Riga.

At the same time, he warned against war weariness: “Let us live without illusions.

Unfortunately, Russia's aggression against Ukraine could continue for years."

Prime Minister Evika Siliņa also called for continued political, military and financial support for Ukraine.

According to them, Latvia has provided aid worth at least 650 million euros since the start of the war.

This year they should be over 200 million euros, said the Prime Minister of the Baltic Sea state with 1.9 million inhabitants, which borders Russia.

»Unwavering support«

In a video speech, Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk thanked the Latvian people for their “unwavering support and help.”

This Saturday marks the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the attack for flimsy reasons, supposedly to protect citizens of Russian origin in eastern Ukraine from attacks.

In fact, the Kremlin is interested in gaining territory and controlling Kiev.

Since then, the much smaller Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian army with international support.

Latvia, as well as its other Baltic neighbors Estonia and Lithuania, fear that they could also become victims of Russian aggression after Ukraine.

The three countries turned to the West after the fall of the Soviet Union and have been part of the NATO defense alliance since 2004.

Further support for Ukraine was also discussed in the Bundestag this Thursday.

The MPs are divided over the question of whether Germany should support Kiev with Taurus cruise missiles, a type of high-tech rocket (read more about the controversial topic here).

mrc/dpa