Russian president is not prepared to accept any solution other than Ukraine's capitulation - Latvian ambassador to NATO

RIGA - The Russian president is not prepared to accept any solution other than Ukraine's capitulation, said Latvian Ambassador to NATO Maris Riekstins on Latvian Television's program Sodienas Jautajums (Today's Question) last night.

He emphasized that the only way to stop Russia's aggression and reach a peace agreement is to provide financial and military assistance to Ukraine, as well as to strengthen sanctions against Russia so that it understands that it will not be able to "outwait" Western support.

"Russia will not be able to wait until the West and the Ukrainians tire and realize that it is hopeless to fight. Quite the contrary. Russia must be forced to understand that it will not be able to achieve its goals by military means," said Riekstins.

He emphasized that he wants the peace talks to result in a just peace, but, speaking in parables, if he had to bet his last euro on the outcome, he would not bet on a just peace being achieved quickly. Riekstins added that he would like his prediction to be wrong.

Speaking about US President Donald Trump's comments on the role of allied soldiers in Afghanistan, Riekstins emphasized that this is not a denial of other countries' contributions, but rather an acknowledgment that the US bore the brunt of the fighting in this operation. The Latvian ambassador to NATO acknowledged that such statements hurt those who have lost loved ones in international operations, and that is undeniable.

Reminding that the US is the only country that has invoked Article 5 of the NATO Treaty after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and that its allies, including Latvia, came to its aid, Riekstins noted that NATO's collective defense is based on the principle of "one for all, all for one," and that, if necessary, Latvia would expect assistance from all of its allies.

The broadcast mentioned that Karlis Bukovskis, director of the Latvian Institute of International Affairs, had noted that the US president's rhetoric, including on Greenland, would leave a lasting impression in Europe, which would also affect NATO. Riekstins reminded viewers that Trump is not the first US leader to attempt to reevaluate Greenland's role in the US security system, but that he is doing so in a more aggressive manner.

The Latvian ambassador to NATO said that after the World Economic Forum in Davos, public rhetoric about Greenland has subsided and the issue will be addressed in direct talks between the US, Denmark, and Greenland, as well as at the NATO level, strengthening security in the Arctic.

However, commenting on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement in Davos that Europe has not become more ready to defend itself, Riekstins disagreed, highlighting the significant financial resources that European countries have invested in supporting Ukraine, including the purchase of weapons from the US.