President sees no reason to worry about negative security implications for Baltics in latest talks on Ukraine peace plan

RIGA - The latest talks on the Ukraine peace plan do not give cause for concern about a possible negative impact on the security situation in the Baltic region, believes Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics.

In recent days, the US-proposed peace plan, the first version of which has been assessed in Europe as highly unfavorable for Ukraine and clearly aimed at satisfying Russia's interests, has been actively discussed internationally, so politicians are working on adjusting the plans.

For example, according to media reports, the first version of the plan included points that would have led to a non-aggression agreement between Russia, Ukraine and Europe, that the differences of the last 30 years would be considered resolved, that Russia would pledge not to attack its neighbors and that NATO would promise not to expand, that the gradual lifting of sanctions against Russia would be discussed, that Russia would be invited to rejoin the G8 group of countries and other points that would apply not only to the war in Ukraine but to the security situation in Europe as a whole.

Rinkevics said on Wednesday after a meeting with Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) that the officials discussed the peace talks process. The President noted that the sides exchanged information on the discussions of the Coalition of the Willing and on contacts at different levels with allies and Ukraine. Rinkevics stressed that the situation remains dynamic and is evolving rapidly.

According to the politician, the Northern European, Baltic countries and European partners are focusing on respecting the essential principles of the talks - Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and essential security interests. Rinkevics noted that a new draft has emerged from the plan discussed last week and talks are continuing.

He said that the main thing was to ensure that the negotiation process would ensure Ukraine's ability to take into account these three basic principles. Rinkevics acknowledged that the latest news was encouraging, but stressed that alongside the Ukraine-US dialogue and the work in the EU, it was important to understand whether Russia was interested in a ceasefire or a peace agreement. "I have not yet seen such an interest," the President said, adding that the US continues its dialogue with Russia.

Rinkevics thinks that at the moment "we should not speculate" on how the process might end.

The President said that Latvia, where possible, expressed its position on the need to take into account the territorial integrity, sovereignty and security interests of Ukraine in the negotiations. Rinkevics also noted that no one would at present predict how the diplomatic and political processes would develop during the week.

"Let us hope that there will be an opportunity to achieve a just, lasting peace, but to achieve that, it is not only a question of the decisions of the Ukrainians, it is also a question of Russia in the end," Rinkevics said.