The war of Russia against Ukraine is not exclusively the Kremlin’s war but that of the entire Russian people, stated Latvia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Krišjānis Kariņš, as quoted by Delfi.
“The Russian government is incapable of improving the well-being of its people. All efforts are focused on finding an external enemy and cultivating the idea that the collapse of the USSR was the greatest tragedy. Therefore, it is necessary to reclaim lost territories with excess. Sadly, it is not just the Kremlin’s war – it has become a war supported by the Russians. Russia is advancing with imperialistic expansion and continues to pose a threat to Europe,” said Kariņš.
Russia remains a threat to all of Europe, regardless of the outcome of the war in Ukraine, the minister says. Once the war ends, the threat will escalate as Moscow continues to rebuild its military forces. Discussions about the possible defeat of Ukraine or the loss of its territories to Russia are aimed at motivating Western countries and societies to prevent such a development. Victory in Ukraine will tie the hands of the Kremlin and serve as confirmation that Moscow’s policies were correct – one can invade neighboring countries and benefit from it.
“Therefore, this is unacceptable. It is an attack not only on Ukraine and Europe but on the established post-World War II order, where the supremacy of law, not force, plays a key role,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
European NATO countries need to take care of their security increasingly. In particular, the Baltic States consistently invest in their defense and security, added Kariņš.
In December, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that Europe has 5 to 8 years to “catch up” in defense.
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