Latvian FM: War in Ukraine may be protracted

Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics has said that the war in Ukraine may be protracted, it is difficult to predict its dynamics, while the process of overcoming the consequences may take a long time.

Rinkevics made the remarks in his annual report on the results of the year in foreign policy and plans for 2023, Delfi reports.

“Latvia consistently emphasises that Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty must be restored within internationally recognised borders, and only Ukraine has the right to decide when, where and under which conditions Russian aggression can be considered terminated. Latvia rejects any pressure on Ukraine on this issue,” the minister said.

He emphasised that the Latvian Foreign Ministry’s priority tasks are to render assistance to Ukraine, maintain the sanctions policy against Russia, hold Russia accountable for the aggression and claim reparations.

The minister noted that Latvia has been rendering comprehensive political, military, financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since the first day of the war, 0.93 per cent of Latvia's GDP or more than 314 million euros ($334 million) accounted for the assistance.

Latvia has prevented more than 3,000 attempts to circumvent EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus this year.