Latvia considers sending troops to Ukraine, FM says

Latvia's Baiba Braže has hinted at the possibility of sending its military to Ukraine as a “peacekeeping force”.

“This is secret information, I can't comment on it in detail. We do not rule out this option, but it will require clear military and political consultations,” Braže said in an interview with the newspaper El Pais when asked whether Latvia would be ready to send a "peacekeeping force" to Ukraine, as France and Britain are planning to do, Caliber.Az reports. 

Notably, discussions have recently emerged regarding the potential deployment of European troops to Ukraine to support a peace agreement with Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that a European reassurance force is expected to take shape within 3-4 weeks, with France and the UK planning to send military officials to Kyiv to develop specific plans aimed at securing sensitive sites and deterring future Russian aggression. However, some European countries have expressed reluctance to participate without U.S. support. ​

In a related development, military leaders from Britain, France, and Ukraine are scheduled to meet in the coming days to advance plans for bolstering Ukraine's security amid its conflict with Russia. This decision follows a call between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reflecting positive momentum from a recent meeting in Paris involving a coalition of European countries supporting Ukraine. ​

Despite these initiatives, divisions persist among European nations. Some countries, like Greece and Italy, oppose sending troops, while others are hesitant without U.S. involvement. The U.S. has not committed intelligence and logistics support, leading to further divisions among EU countries. 

The Kremlin has warned of direct conflict if NATO troops deploy to Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that such a move would be "a very important new element" and "absolutely not in the interests of NATO members."

By Khagan Isayev