Latvia will never recognise occupied Ukraine as part of Russia / Article

Latvia will not recognize the legitimacy of Russian control over occupied Ukrainian territories, Foreign Minister Baiba Braže affirmed on December 15th. Braže also urged the European Union to maximize pressure on Russia and utilize all available tools to achieve peace in Ukraine.

Latvia’s Stance on Ukraine

Speaking at the closing of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Braže stressed the importance of using all EU levers of influence to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, according to a Foreign Ministry press release. “Latvia will never recognise the incorporation of the currently occupied Ukrainian territories into Russia,” she stated.

Braže recently returned from a visit to the United States, where she welcomed U.S. efforts toward peace in Ukraine. However, she acknowledged reports of potential negotiations that may involve Ukraine ceding territory to Russia.

“Russia continues its aggression, targeting civilian infrastructure and innocent Ukrainian citizens, and there is no indication of its readiness for peace,” Braže said on Monday. “Russia alone is an obstacle to achieving a sustainable and just peace in Ukraine. It is trying to reduce support for Ukraine, divide the EU, NATO, and also reduce the global influence of the US. Therefore, Europe must use all the levers of influence available to it to achieve “peace through force” and put maximum pressure on Russia.”

Braže emphasized Ukraine’s need for air defense systems, ammunition, and long-range precision-guided weapons to defend against Russian attacks and target Russian military assets.

EU Response and Sanctions

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibikha participated remotely in the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, providing updates on peace talks, internal reforms, and Ukraine’s readiness for EU accession. He also highlighted the necessity of securing the unconditional return of children kidnapped by Russia as part of any peace agreement.

The EU imposed sanctions on four legal entities and five individuals linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet” of cargo ships, which are used to circumvent existing sanctions. Braže has been a key advocate for targeting this fleet, successfully raising the issue on the EU agenda.

“I am pleased with the new sanctions against the Russian ‘shadow fleet’ – we agreed to impose sanctions on 41 ships without waiting for the next round of EU sanctions,” Braže said. “I called for this at the November EU Foreign Affairs Council so that the sanctions would be applied as promptly as possible. We also approved the EU declaration on international law in relation to the threat of the ‘shadow fleet’ and the protection of critical maritime infrastructure.”

Additional sanctions were applied to 12 individuals and two legal entities involved in spreading propaganda, disinformation, and destabilizing activities in Europe.