Latvia’s PM slams new EU decision on Russia saying “Are we nuts?”

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has sharply criticised the decision not to impose a full EU-wide entry ban on Russian military personnel who took part in the war against Ukraine as part of the bloc’s latest sanctions package, asking rhetorically, “Are we nuts?”

In an interview with Politico, he said France and Italy opposed a full ban, proposing that the issue instead be addressed through EU visa rules, Caliber.Az reports.

The countries ultimately agreed to create a legal framework for banning Russian combatants from entering the EU, while allowing individual member states to decide when to implement the ban.

“Are we nuts?” Kulbergs stressed, criticising the delay. “We allow Russian military soldiers to be given visas, the ones killing [Ukrainians] on the field.”

The Latvian prime minister also criticised European Council President António Costa’s decision to establish a communication channel with the Kremlin. He said such steps should be agreed upon jointly by all EU member states and expressed doubts about Moscow’s readiness to negotiate.

Kulbergs further stated that Latvia should be open to restoring relations with Russia after the conflict ends, provided that reparations are paid to Ukraine and those responsible for war crimes are held accountable.

In his view, the risks to EU countries could increase after a ceasefire due to the return of hundreds of thousands of servicemen to Russia and a possible rise in migration.

Kulbergs is also calling on the European Union to provide €7 billion to help Latvia cover the military and economic consequences of confronting Russia, arguing that countries on the bloc’s eastern flank are bearing a disproportionate share of the burden.

According to the prime minister, the funding would help compensate Latvia for increased defence spending and the loss of trade with Russia following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Riga wants the €7 billion in addition to other EU funds allocated to Latvia. The amount would represent nearly half of the €15.1 billion the country expects to spend on defence during the seven-year budget period.

The proposal comes as Latvia approaches a key national election on October 3. The country has been among Europe’s strongest supporters of Ukraine and has significantly expanded defence spending since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

At the same time, sanctions and the collapse of trade with Russia have severely damaged economic ties that once played an important role in Latvia’s economy.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov