Deterring Russia will be more expensive if we don't help Ukraine now - Latvian Foreign Minister

He said this in a conversation with the media before the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on January 22.

Kariņš said that the countries need to agree on solutions that guarantee financial and military support for Ukraine in the coming years.

"For anyone who thinks that supporting Ukraine is 'too expensive' and that the money could be spent elsewhere, I can only say one thing: it will only get more expensive in the future. If we don't help Ukraine stop Russia now, it will cost us even more in the future. Because Russia will not stop until it is stopped. It is in our power, and it is definitely in our interests," the minister said.

Kariņš also expressed confidence that the EU will reach agreement on the decisions necessary to provide financial and military support to Ukraine "in the coming weeks" when a meeting at the level of states is held.

"I think it's time for us to open our eyes and realize that Russia will not stop its war against Ukraine. Russia will stop only if it is actively stopped. Ukrainians are willing to put up the fight, and Ukraine needs our united support and the support of the EU," the Latvian Foreign Minister emphasized.

• On January 11, during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Latvia, the country's leader, Edgars Rinkēvičs, announced a new military aid package for Ukraine.