Minister of Defence of Latvia Andris Sprūds
A just and sustainable peace in Ukraine is only possible when Kyiv has a strong army and strong support from its allies, including investment in the defence industry. Only then will negotiations with Russia be possible from a position of strength.
This was stated by Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds before a meeting of the EU Foreign and Defence Affairs Council in Brussels, Ukrinform reports.
“Latvia fulfils its obligations: We allocate 0.25% of GDP for military assistance to Ukraine. We train Ukrainian soldiers. A well-trained and armed Ukrainian army is the best guarantee of peace,” Sprūds said.
He stressed that European countries should significantly increase funding for Ukraine’s defence:
“EUR 20 billion has been identified, but I believe it is not enough. We can and should reach at least €40 billion this year. If everyone allocates 0.25% of GDP, as Latvia does, it is absolutely realistic.”
Special attention is paid to investments in military production in Ukraine:
“Ukrainian industry can produce many types of weapons. It is crucial to invest in this area to help Ukraine maintain its defence capability and win the war.”
The Minister also noted that diplomacy without force is useless when it comes to Russia:
“We are dealing with an imperial regime that begins to ‘cut off pieces’ as soon as it sees weakness. Therefore, negotiations are possible only from a position of strength. This should be the basis of our diplomacy.”
