Psychologically Ukraine has won the war - Pabriks

RIGA - Considering the support provided by Ukraine by Western and other countries while it is defending itself from Russia, psychologically Ukraine has won the war, Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks (Fore Development/For) said in an interview with the Latvian public radio today.

He said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is doing everything possible to split up, scare and deter other countries from providing assistance to Ukraine and enforcing more sanctions on Russia. This has been the goal of his threats on the possibility to use nuclear weapons.

Pabriks said that nuclear threats cannot scare those countries who own nuclear weapons themselves. "How much the Russian ruling elite and Putin himself are aware how dangerous it is to play with matches near a powder keg. Hopefully, Russians understand this - the Russian society and people around Putin," he said.

Speaking about possible further development of the military conflict and the ways Putin could end the aggression, Pabriks said that the West does not need Putin's capitulation. What has to be achieved is that Russian army leaves Ukraine's territory.

"It is not possible for Russia to actually win the war, considering the massive support to Ukraine from the free world," said Pabriks, adding that the Russian government now is forced to think quickly how to agree on peace, "possibly, based on the ideas Putin presented from the start".