Latvian FM: Russians fleeing mobilization were not against war but merely against own participation in it

"Unfortunately, the farther away a country is from Ukraine, the duller its understanding of what is happening in Ukraine".

The Latvian Foreign Minister, Edgars Rinkevics, made this remark during an interview with the country's Neatkarīgā Rīta Avīze newspaper on December 5, answering questions regarding a possible war tribunal to try Russia for its crimes committed since February 24 and the supply of long-range weapons to the Ukrainian army. He also touched upon the issue of his country prohibiting Russian citizens fleeing the military mobilization from entering his country.

Minister Rinkevics noted that there is a discussion between NATO, the EU and "like-minded countries" at the moment about the need for Ukraine to be given long-range artillery systems, tanks and even more effective air defense systems.

"There are some colleagues who are expressing concern: does this not mean that Ukraine will use these weapons to break into Russian territory? My explanation: these weapons must be given so that Ukraine can effectively defend itself against the destruction of its energy system", he said.

The minister stated in the interview that he believes Ukrainians should be given weapons and not be restricted in the use of these weapons if there is a goal to destroy bases where missiles or aircraft are located in those areas that are on the Russian side.

"Russia, without concern about escalation, is bombing the whole of Ukraine, but we think all the time: oh, that we wouldn't escalate something! But Russia, with the destruction of Ukraine's power system, has long gone to a much more serious escalation" he stressed, adding that it cannot be that the aggressor uses all possible means to attack while "we" try lecture the defending country. 

Rinkevics also commented on Latvia prohibiting Russian citizens from entering the country after the announcement of Russia's military mobilization in September. He said that it was clear to the Latvian government that these people were not against war but against their participation in the war, "and this is something else entirely".

The minister also disclosed that NATO, the EU and the G7 are currently working in two directions, namely on delivering air defense weapons even faster in order to minimize Russian attacks and on supplying Ukraine with transformers and generators to help Ukraine survive the winter.