Ukraine should be given real hope of joining the alliance at NATO Summit in Vilnius - Rinkevics

RIGA - At the NATO Summit in Vilnius, which will take place on July 11 and 12, Ukraine must be given real hope of joining the alliance, Minister of Foreign Affairs and President-Elect Edgars Rinkevics (JV) said at a press conference after being elected president today.

He highly appreciates Latvia's allies, who have deployed armed forces and additional units since February 24 of last year, when Russia started a war of aggression against Ukraine.

"It is important that the decisions made at the NATO Madrid summit are implemented. Even though our homework, including the creation of a new training base, is going smoothly. It will be one of the discussions before the summit and in Vilnius," Rinkevics said.

He noted that the Ministry of Defense and Minister of Defense Inara Murniece (National Alliance), as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are working hard on these issues. The president-elect emphasized that serious work on the preparation of decisions has started now, a month before the summit. Only now have the offices of presidents and prime ministers seriously addressed these issues.