Europe will be able to support Ukraine even if others will not - Saeima speaker

RIGA - Europe is strong enough to continue to support Ukraine even if others are reluctant to do so, Saeima Speaker Daiga Mierina (Greens/Farmers) said as the parliament commemorated the third anniversary of the war started in Ukraine by Russia.

The speaker noted that, according to UN and Ukrainian data, 45,100 Ukrainian soldiers had lost their lives defending their country, democracy and peace in Europe. Mierina added that Latvia had also lost two volunteer soldiers, Vitalijs Smirnovs and Edgars Platonovs.

According to the Saeima speaker, the major powers are currently trying to redistribute their spheres of influence in Ukraine, which inevitably has an impact on security and peace in Europe.

"We want peace, but we have not prepared for it properly. Therefore, the new reality demands that from now on we have to do everything ourselves. This means that we will pay more for our security and everyone will have to contribute," said Mierina.

The Saeima speaker believes that today it is important to remember why the European Union was founded. It was founded to lay the foundations for a united European community through economic ties, to promote development, peace and to prevent new armed and military conflicts in Europe, Mierina said.

"Now more than ever, Ukraine needs financial resources and weapons to be in the best possible position to negotiate peace with the aggressor," the Saeima speaker stressed.

According to Mierina, support must be flexible and not bogged down in the EU bureaucracy. All we need now is the political will and the will to act, the speaker stressed.

Latvia will continue to be a stable and reliable partner for Ukraine, Mierina pledged, stressing that security is a top priority for the EU's Eastern flank.

Mieriba noted that work has been started on a Latvian-Ukrainian dictionary, which will ensure comprehensive long-term cooperation and facilitate the integration of Ukrainian civilians in Latvia. A training program for Ukrainian parliamentarians has also been launched to transfer our knowledge and experience on successful integration into the European Union.

Despite our unity of support, it is increasingly common to hear that the public is tired of the war in Ukraine, Mierina said, stressing that we must not grow tired.

"May the spirit and strength of the Ukrainian people be the reason for our unwavering support today, tomorrow and always," said the speaker of the Saeima.

As reported earlier, the 16th round of sanctions against Russia was approved by the foreign ministers of the EU Member States at a meeting in Brussels on Monday. The sanctions were formally adopted on the day marking three years since Russia's re-invasion of Ukraine.