Expressing concerns over Russia's activities at Ukraine's borders, Pabriks urge West to send clear signal to Russia

RIGA - Expressing concerns over Russia's activities at Ukraine's borders, Defense Minister Artis Pabriks (For Development/For) has urged Western countries to send clear signals to Russia, LETA was told at the Defense Ministry. 

Pabriks voiced concerns about reports of Russia's military buildup near the Ukrainian border, calling on Western countries to send clear signals to Russia on political and other support for Ukraine. 

"Russia's recent announcements along with support to the so-called Ukraine's separatists and military activities near the Ukrainian border are an indication of growing military tensions. We, the Western community, must not look on passively at the neighbor country's yet another possible aggression and permit bloodshed in Ukraine again," Pabriks said. 

The tensions that have lasted for years in the region and regular breaches of the ceasefire on the part of the Russia-backed armed separatist fighters shows that Russia only wishes to stabilize the situation in words, not deeds, said Pabriks. 

Latvia supports Ukraine's territorial integrity, supports its Euro-Atlantic integration and denounces Russia's military invasion of Ukraine in 2014. 

According to media reports, the Kremlin on Wednesday threatened Ukraine with war, warning that Kyiv's "provocative actions" can lead to fresh hostilities.