President Edgars Rinkēvičs expressed doubts about Russia's readiness for peace in Ukraine. He stated this on Wednesday at a joint press conference following a meeting with Prime Minister Evika Siliņa.
Rinkēvičs noted that the international situation remains complex and volatile.
He emphasized that Latvia fully supports both the provision of security guarantees to Ukraine and the advancement towards achieving peace; however, the question of Russia's readiness for peace remains open.
Rinkēvičs pointed out that the positions of the United States, Europe, and Ukraine on security and territorial integrity issues are becoming more detailed and coordinated, but final decisions must be made by Ukraine as a sovereign state.
The president emphasized that Latvia has done significant work in the field of security, including strengthening the eastern border and achieving defense funding of 5% of GDP, with the aim of increasing defense spending being the development of the state's defense capabilities.
Rinkēvičs reminded that the upcoming year will be an election year, which will inevitably affect public sentiment and the nature of public discussions. At the same time, he expressed hope that "we will manage everything."
