Baltic countries and Poland to work on joint declaration supporting Ukraine's accession to NATO - Smiltens

RIGA - The Baltic countries and Poland will work on a joint declaration supporting Ukraine's accession to NATO, Saeima Speaker Edvards Smiltens (United List) said after a meeting with his Estonian counterpart Lauri Hussar in Riga on Wednesday.

Both parliament speakers emphasized the importance of the upcoming Vilnius summit, stating that clear, direct and persistent support for Ukraine's progress toward NATO and, potentially, the European Union membership was very much necessary.

Hussar emphasized that Latvia and Estonia supported NATO expansion, adding he hoped that Sweden would become a NATO member during the Vilnius summit. It would also send a strong signal to Ukraine, said Hussar.

Hussar went on to say he was glad that his first foreign visit as the Estonian parliament speaker was to Latvia, as both countries had a lot in common.

Smiltens emphasized that Latvia and Estonia should not compete with each other, but rather work together. It is necessary to jointly bolster defense, draw investment in the Baltic region, and develop the Baltic economies, he said.