Latvia supports Paris Declaration and confirms its readiness to contribute to Ukraine's security guarantees

RIGA - Latvia supports the Paris Declaration on Ukraine, underlines Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity), who attended the meeting of the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing countries in Paris on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister's Communications Adviser Anna Udre told LETA that at the meeting the Prime Minister confirmed Latvia's readiness to participate in guaranteeing Ukraine's long-term security and expressed her clear support for the Paris Declaration, stressing the need to maintain united and decisive international action. Silina said that Latvia was ready to make a practical contribution to strengthening Ukraine's capabilities.

The next step, the Prime Minister stressed, was to take decisions on the national level, including in the Saeima.

"We are grateful to the US and the countries of the Coalition of the Willing for their important efforts to bring peace. It is important that Russia is also ready for peace on these terms," said Silina.

The Prime Minister assured that Latvia will continue to provide at least 0.25 percent of gross domestic product in military support to Ukraine in 2026 and will continue to jointly lead the Drone Coalition.

At the same time, Silina stressed the need for allies to ensure that NATO's deterrence and defense capabilities on its eastern border remain unwaveringly strong. "Russia remains an aggressor and a threat, but together we can ensure that this aggression is effectively deterred," she stressed.

The AFP news agency reports that Ukraine's Western allies on Tuesday agreed key security guarantees for Kyiv including a US-led monitoring mechanism and a European multinational force that would be deployed after a ceasefire in Russia's war against its neighbor.

Following the largest yet meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing in Paris, both European leaders and US envoys hailed progress that hid tensions in recent days over assertive US foreign policy in the Western hemisphere under President Donald Trump.

But the security guarantees for Ukraine would only come into force once a ceasefire is agreed to end the almost four-year war sparked by Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of its neighbor. Russian leader Vladimir Putin's intentions remain unclear.

The "robust" guarantees would see the United States lead a truce monitoring mechanism with European participation, French President Emmanuel Macron said after the meeting which gathered representatives of 35 countries, including 27 heads of state or government.

Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky signed a declaration of intent that foresees Britain, France and other European allies deploying troops on Ukrainian territory after a ceasefire.

The allies also agreed to establish a US-Ukraine-Coalition coordination cell in Paris.

But a promise that Washington would commit to "support" the European-led multinational force "in case of a new attack" by Russia that was present in the draft statement was not in the communique released on Tuesday evening.