On 24 February 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Latvian Transatlantic Organisation (LATO) is holding a discussion, “Standing by Ukraine Against Russia’s Aggression”. As pointed out by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andris Pelšs, the discussion at the Ministry is yet another proof of the unflagging support by the Latvian Foreign Service for Ukraine in its defensive fight against Russia’s military invasion. Throughout the past year, the Foreign Service has firmly stood up in support of Ukraine, including by seeking political and practical solutions together with the allies.
The event will be opened by the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gunda Reire, and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Latvia, Olexandr Mischenko.
Gunda Reire has noted that Ukraine, while bearing huge sacrifices, is courageously defending its freedom, its land and people: “In this war against the aggressor, Ukraine is fighting for the freedom of all of us to live in a free and democratic Europe. Therefore, we shall stand fast in our support by providing Ukraine with all the necessary assistance. Ukraine must win, and Russia must realize its unjust war is doomed to fail. Such aggression must never occur again; therefore, the crimes perpetrated by Russia in Ukraine will be prosecuted and those guilty will be held accountable.”
The Ambassador of Ukraine to Latvia, Olexandr Mischenko, underlines: “One year of war is behind us, confirming the fact, denied only by Russia, that Ukraine is indeed an independent nation, bearer of Western democratic values and capable to resist Russia’s attempts to put it back under its tyrannical rule. Very much unexpected to Putin was also the civilized world’s unity and solidarity with Ukraine in opposition to the Kremlin dictatorship’s dream to make it so that in this world rule of power overrides the rule of law. This gives us hope and certainty that together we will win!”
To look back at 2022 and the way ahead to Ukraine’s victory, the discussion brings together the Chair of the European Affairs Committee at the Saeima (the Latvian Parliament), Andris Sprūds, the Director of the Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation (LAPAS), Inese Vaivare, and the Director of the First Bilateral Relations Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Katarina Plātere. The Governor of the Luhansk Region in Ukraine, Serhiy Haidai, will share Ukraine’s experience over the past year and its unflagging efforts in the fight against the aggressor, Russia. The discussion will be moderated by the member of the Board of LATO, Žaneta Ozoliņa.
On leaving behind the one-year milestone since Russia’s full-scale armed invasion of Ukraine, LATO underlines that the Russian military aggression was not launched just a year ago, it began back in 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and invaded the east of Ukraine. The fight of the Ukrainian people for their independence, sovereignty and the highest ideals of democratic values in their homeland and across the free Europe began nine years ago and will go on with support from the Western democratic world until Ukraine emerges fully victorious. The whole world that is aware of the threat posed by Russia to the world order based on the fundamental principles of the UN Charter stands by Ukraine and lends support.
The participants of the discussion are members of the Saeima heading up cooperation with Ukraine, diplomats from foreign embassies, Latvia’s civil society activists, policy experts and representatives of the media.
The discussion will be broadcast in Latvian, Ukrainian and English on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the website of LATO at www.securebaltics.eu, as well as social media.
For the attention of the media
Members of the media are requested to register their participation until 16.00 on 23 February by contacting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at e-mail: media@mfa.gov.lv