On 7 April 2022, the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, took part in the meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Brussels, at which the ministers exchanged views on Russia’s war in Ukraine and the strengthening of NATO’s defence and deterrence.
During the meeting, Edgars Rinkēvičs stated that plans for NATO’s deterrence and defence architecture should be formulated without further delay. As Latvia understands it, the declaration establishing the NATO-Russia Council has already been rendered null and void; accordingly, its public nullification is not decisive for Latvia.
Russia cannot go unpunished; therefore, all kinds of assistance to Ukraine must be further provided so that the country could defend its sovereignty, the Minister said. The international community must achieve that Russia is brought to the negotiating table in a meaningful manner and hostilities in Ukraine are ended immediately, which includes ceasefire and the withdrawal of troops. At the same time, that must not take place at the expense of Ukraine’s sovereignty, the Latvian Foreign Minister underlined.
At the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting, Edgars Rinkēvičs expressed support for the need to permanently station NATO forces in the Baltic States in view of the security situation in the region.