Rihards Kols, Chair of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee, pointed out that in recent weeks there had been an unusual increase in the number of statements from Russian officials regarding Ukraine and its allegedly provocative actions near Russia's borders. "Similar statements, which were not based on an analysis of the actual situation or facts, but rather on absurd fabrications, have in the past served the Kremlin as a pretext for military manoeuvres, supposedly in self‑defence," said the Chair of the Committee.

"While much of Europe's attention is focused on the outbreak of the pandemic and the events on the Polish‑Belarusian border, the developments near Ukraine and the rhetoric of the Russian authorities warrant serious consideration of different scenarios of both further escalation and de‑escalation," noted Kols after the meeting.

Members of the Committee emphasised that the security situation in Eastern Ukraine and Crimea affects Latvia, the European Union, NATO, and the entire international community.

The developments on the Polish‑Belarusian border and the possible risks of similar scenarios unfolding on the Latvian and Lithuanian borders with Belarus and Russia have a significant impact on the security situation, stressed the MPs. The same applies to energy supply dynamics.

In the meeting, Members of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee met with representatives of the Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs.

Saeima Press Service