Russia, along with its allies, is currently skillfully exploiting loopholes between various sanction regimes, said the Latvian ambassador to Ukraine Andrei Pildegovich in an interview on the "Morning Panorama" program on Latvian television, LETA reports.
The ambassador emphasized that it is important not only to impose sanctions but also to prevent the use of these loopholes. According to him, there are sanctions from the US, Europe, the UK, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, and other countries.
"This is a marathon on several tracks. In our view, a fair world can only be achieved by continuing coordinated interaction and pressure on Russia in all possible areas," emphasized Pildegovich.
In response to a question about whether the actions of US President Donald Trump regarding Ukraine could finally yield results, Pildegovich expressed hope that this would happen.
"There is no doubt that the US president has leverage," noted the ambassador.
He acknowledged that sanctions against the Russian oil company Lukoil have proven effective. Additionally, he mentioned that decisive actions by the US regarding the "shadow fleet" can be observed, highlighting the important role of American diplomacy.
At the same time, Pildegovich stated that he approaches the past and upcoming trilateral negotiations with great caution and even skepticism, as Russia continues to attack Ukraine.
"Russia's rhetoric does not match its actions. This is a traditional tactic of Russia. Therefore, this year is very important," he pointed out.
In his opinion, Ukraine is doing everything possible to demonstrate a pragmatic approach. It signals that it is ready to freeze the current front line and make certain compromises.
"But, of course, fundamental issues concern territorial integrity," explained the ambassador.
As the diplomat noted, it cannot be denied that Ukrainian society is tired. Currently, Ukraine is experiencing perhaps one of the most difficult moments in the entire war, Pildegovich pointed out, emphasizing that the country is facing the harshest winter in the last ten years.
At the same time, Russia has intensified attacks specifically on thermal power plants — several of which have been destroyed in the vicinity of Kyiv. In fact, the capital of Ukraine has been living in a state of disaster for the last three weeks: centralized heating and electricity supply are available for about 4–6 hours a day, and there are serious disruptions in water supply. This is also felt in the embassy located in the city center, he added.
According to Pildegovich, many people have moved to private homes, to relatives and friends, so there is a certain movement of the population within the country.
"I would call it genocide," he said, emphasizing that this is essentially another war crime by Russia against civilians.
The ambassador noted that any assistance in the energy sector is especially important right now.
In Pildegovich's opinion, these attacks do not indicate Russia's desire for peace or to freeze the conflict.
As previously reported, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that during the negotiations, delegations from Ukraine, Russia, and the US discussed a 20-point plan to end the war and that after the meeting in Abu Dhabi, the number of contentious issues has decreased. However, Ukraine does not intend to give up its territories.
Negotiations are expected to continue next week.
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