NATO must provide Ukraine with credible post-war security guarantees at Vilnius Summit - Levits

RIGA -  NATO must provide Ukraine with credible post-war guarantees at its upcoming summit in Vilnius, President Egils Levits believes. 

Justine Deicmane, head of the president's press office, informed LETA that Levits on Wednesday took part in a meeting of U.S. President Joe Biden, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and leaders of NATO eastern flank countries (B9) in Warsaw, Poland. 

Participants of the meeting pledged to continue work on a united NATO response to Ukraine and a further strengthening of European security, particularly on NATO's eastern flank. The leaders also adopted a joint statement. 

Addressing his colleagues, Levits presented Latvia's vision of how to maintain lasting peace in Europe and a rules-based international order. 

"We all realize that Ukraine must win and Russia must lose. We, on our part, must continue to provide Ukraine with everything that is necessary to ensure its victory. It is not just a matter of fighter jets but also of our resolve to defend out values in the run," the Latvian president said. 

The Latvian president stressed the need to call Russia to account for its crimes committed in Ukraine, because the country's future and global order can only be ensured if Russia is called to account at an international tribunal. 

Levits pointed out the necessity to provide Ukraine with a clear future perspective of its accession to the alliance and post-war guarantees. Ukraine wants to join NATO and Latvia  firmly supports these aspirations, Levits said. 

While discussing NATO's upcoming summit in Vilnius this June, the Latvian president noted the need to agree on a further strengthening of the alliance's eastern flank, including the Baltic states.