Russia must assume full responsibility and costs related to the rebuilding of Ukraine - Rinkevics

• Published date: 17 May 2022
• Publication title: LETA

On Monday, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics took part in the meeting of the European Union's Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, at which EU foreign ministers discussed the EU's support to Ukraine, EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus, and the issue of the Western Balkans.

The Foreign Affairs Council was preceded by the meeting of the EU-Canada Joint Ministerial Committee, at which the parties discussed global challenges, including foreign policy and security priorities as well as cooperation between the EU and NATO, LETA was informed by the Foreign Ministry.

During the meeting, Rinkevics expressed Latvia's support for granting an EU candidate status to Ukraine. He noted that a coordinated international political and diplomatic pressure on Russia and Belarus must remain in place, and the price Russia should pay for continuing an unjustified war must be increased to the utmost. A coordinated support of every kind for Ukraine's immediate needs must also continue. Russia must be called to justice before international courts, and other legal mechanisms must be used to investigate into war crimes and crimes against peace and humanity. In addition, restrictive measures must be increased as much as possible in the financial, energy and other sectors, sanctions must be expanded against natural and legal persons, including those responsible for propaganda and disinformation in Russia, the Latvian...