If Ukraine loses, it will pave the way for next war - Pabriks

RIGA - If Ukraine were to lose the war, it would pave the way for the next war, and there would be an even greater ideological brainwashing of the nation against everything Western, according to Defense Minister Artis Pabriks.

At the opening of the international conference in the Latvian War Museum "War, Ideology and Power: Russia's expansion in Europe throughout history", Pabriks stressed that Russia's war in Ukraine is an imperial expansion that the rest of the civilized, liberally democratic world must in no way tolerate.

"For me, this is very much an imperial war, not only against Ukraine, but also against the whole European continent, against the transatlantic union. This is a war based on completely different principles and values," the minister said.

It is unacceptable that Ukraine should lose this war, which is why Latvia is doing its utmost to support Ukraine in this war of defense.

"If Ukraine were to lose this war and we were to give in to Moscow's aggressive tendencies, our analysts believe this would only pave the way for the next expansion and war," Pabriks said.

History experts and specialists from Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Finland and Ukraine participate in the conference.