No security guarantees will protect Ukraine from new Russian aggression – former Latvian Defense Minister Pabriks

He shared his opinions on Espreso TV.

"If someone talks to me about security guarantees for Ukraine, I always emphasize that the only guarantee of security for Ukraine is its accession to NATO. Ukraine has already signed the Budapest Memorandum, which was grossly violated by Russia. Moreover, we know that it does not work. Poland also had security guarantees in 1939, as did the Baltic states. The best security guarantee in the modern world is Article 5 of the Alliance. That is why I believe that without joining NATO, Ukraine will not have a 100% guarantee of security," Pabriks explained.

• Latvia has consistently supported Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. For example, it supplied Ukraine with Stingers in the run up to Russia's full-scale invasion on February 23, 2022. 

• On January 12, 2023, the Speaker of the Saeima of Latvia visited Ukraine to discuss humanitarian and defense support for Ukraine with President Zelenskyy and to address the Ukrainian parliament in Ukrainian. 

• On January 17, Latvian Defense Minister Ināra Mūrniece also visited Ukraine. On January 18, Latvia announced that it would send Ukraine a new military aid package, which would include Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems, helicopters, machine guns with ammunition, and drones.

• On April 21, Ināra Mūrniece dannounced that Latvia would transfer another batch of Stinger MANPADS to Ukraine, the last one it has.