On 18 October 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Krišjānis Kariņš met with the Ambassador of Ukraine to Latvia, Anatolii Kutsevol.
During the meeting, the Foreign Minister and the Ambassador discussed the developments in the Middle East, the impact of the Israeli-Hamas armed conflict on the security situation in the region and its possible repercussion for Ukraine, the consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, and Ukraine’s resilience against the aggressor. The officials exchanged views on the EU’s support to Ukraine, including Ukraine’s further integration into the EU, as well as Latvia’s practical involvement in the reconstruction of Ukraine. Krišjānis Kariņš also reaffirmed to the Ambassador Latvia’s strong support to Ukraine.
“Despite the increasing number of conflicts in the world, it is important to remember that the war waged by Russia against Ukraine is real, brutal, and has already been going on uninterrupted for 602 days. In this situation, it is important that we in Europe continue to provide Ukraine with all support it needs. In a conversation with the Ambassador, I confirmed that Latvia’s support for Ukraine was unwavering and we would continue to supply all assistance that Ukraine needs for it to win the war,” Krišjānis Kariņš emphasized after the meeting.
Latvia is committed to continued implementation of reconstruction projects in the Chernihiv region, as well as to the transfer of good practice in carrying out reforms through participation in development cooperation projects in Ukraine. Latvia will continue to work closely with Ukraine and support its reforms with a view to closer integration into Europe. Latvia, being a reliable cooperation partner, will make every effort for accession negotiations with Ukraine to be launched by the end of this year. The officials then discussed the capacity of the Baltic corridor and Latvia’s infrastructure in providing an alternative route for Ukrainian grain exports and transit. Given the availability of Ukrainian grain and agricultural products vital for global food security, Latvia supports efforts to promote export of Ukrainian grain and agricultural products to global markets. Referring to Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian civilian and critical infrastructure, the Foreign Minister highlighted the unwavering solidarity of the Latvian Government and society with Ukraine by continuing to provide humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people, including by the supply of generators to help Ukrainian people overcome another winter under war conditions.
