We no longer have any illusions about Russia. The aggressor has adjusted its economy for a protracted war and spends more than a third of its budget on its military. We must not underestimate the adversary, Russia is constantly changing tactics in the battlefield and learning quickly. Western allies need to be aware that Russia will not stop at Ukraine unless we stop it. This was emphasised by the Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mieriņa during her visit to Washington D.C. to meet U.S. legislators.

The United States have an indispensable role in the security of Europe. Today, global security is based on a strong partnership between the U.S. and Europe, stressed Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, meeting with Mike Johnson, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and other U.S. lawmakers in Washington, D.C.  Mieriņa is visiting the U.S. together with Lauri Hussar, Speaker of the Estonian Riigikogu, and Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas. When meeting with the Baltic Speakers, Johnson reaffirmed the U.S. strategic partnership with the Baltic States. 

On Wednesday, 31 January, members of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima held a joint meeting with Mariia Mezentseva and Olena Khomenko, parliamentarians representing the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, to deliberate on the current situation in Ukraine and the return of Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia. 

The interests of children are the priority, and it is the task of us—the international community—to do everything in our power to ensure that every Ukrainian child kidnapped by Russia returns home safely to their family, asserted Zanda Kalniņa‑Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima and Head of the Latvian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), on Wednesday, 31 January, at the international conference "Kidnapped by Russia" held at the National Library of Latvia. 

Canada's decision to bolster its military presence in Latvia is an outstanding example of unity and solidarity among NATO allies. It is an important contribution not only to the security of the Baltic States, but to the security of Europe as a whole. It sends a clear message to Russia that NATO is determined to defend every inch of its territory, Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, emphasised during a meeting with Greg Fergus, Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, in Ottawa.

In parallel with strengthening NATO’s presence, our foreign policy prioritises a faster Ukraine’s victory and containment of Russia’s aggression. Today, the defence of the entire Europe begins on Ukrainian-Russian front line. Loud and clear. On Thursday, 25 January, this was emphasised by the Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mieriņa in the annual foreign policy debate of the Saeima.

At the moment, every foreign policy issue is affected by the threat posed by Russia to European values, and the main goal is to ensure Ukraine’s victory and loss of Russia as soon as possible, said Edmunds Cepurītis, Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima, during the annual foreign policy debate held on Thursday, 25 January.

Ukraine must be admitted to NATO and the European Union, and there are no alternatives, said Rihards Kols, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Head of the Latvian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on Thursday, 25 January, during the annual foreign policy debate in the Saeima. The Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee emphasised that the outcome of the war in Ukraine will determine the security of Europe, the United States and the world in the coming decades. Ukraine’s victory is important for the strengthening and prospering of democracy.

“We must in all possible ways contribute to the victory of justice over Russia in its war against Ukraine. Russia must be held accountable for its atrocities. In order to restore justice and dispel the feeling of impunity, the Russian frozen funds need to be redirected to the reconstruction of Ukraine. The issue of returning abducted children to home in Ukraine is fundamentally important," said Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, Head of the Latvian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, on Monday, 22 January, in a conversation with the newly elected President of the Assembly Theodoros Rousopoulos in Strasbourg, France.

Alarmed by the continuous brutal Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and communities, the Presidium of the Baltic Assembly (BA) adopted on Friday, 19 January, a statement on supporting Ukraine until its complete victory. “We call for immediate efforts in Europe to ensure the complete victory of Ukraine following the Peace Formula of the country,” informed Jānis Vucāns, Vice-President of the Baltic Assembly and Head of the Latvian Delegation.