An essential part of Ukraine’s victory plan is its accession to NATO as a prerequisite for long-term security in Europe. Ukraine’s NATO membership could provide the strongest safeguard against further Russian aggression, stated Speaker of the Saeima, Daiga Mieriņa, on Wednesday, 23 October, following a meeting with the Chairman of the Parliament of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, who is on an official visit to Latvia. The parliamentary leaders met at the Saeima ahead of the Third Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform, which is set to gather parliamentarians from around 50 countries in Riga tomorrow in support of Ukraine.

We sincerely hope that at next year’s NATO Summit in The Hague, a political decision will be made to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join NATO. To achieve this, we will work closely with our NATO allies,” emphasised Speaker Mieriņa. She further reiterated Latvia’s support for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, stating that Latvia stands ready to provide the necessary support and share its experiences with its Ukrainian counterparts.

“Similarly, ensuring a sustained supply of all necessary weaponry is crucial to the successful execution of the victory plan. Ukraine has the full right to self-defence, which includes the destruction of military targets on Russian territory,” said Speaker Mieriņa.

The Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, expressed his gratitude to his Latvian colleagues for their understanding and support of Ukraine’s victory plan, which was presented by the President of Ukraine to their national parliament a week ago. “Latvia has been, and remains, a steadfast partner of Ukraine, and we are confident that Ukraine and Latvia share a common vision of victory,” Stefanchuk stated.

In Latvia, support for Ukraine is, and will continue to be, present at all levels,” said Speaker Mieriņa, emphasising the need for ongoing military supplies and international community support. “In the coming days, I will also take the opportunity to engage with several parliamentary speakers to discuss support for Ukraine and to highlight the security challenges facing our region,” added the Speaker of the Saeima.

Stefanchuk emphasised that Latvia serves as a strong advocate for Ukraine at both the European and global levels, recognising key initiatives crucial to Ukraine’s European integration. The Speaker of Ukraine also expressed his gratitude to the Speaker of the Saeima for the enhanced cooperation at the parliamentary level, which he noted is of great significance to Ukraine at this critical time.

Mieriņa and Stefanchuk discussed the final preparations for the upcoming Parliamentary Summit of the Crimean Platform. “The Crimean Platform Summit forms part of our comprehensive support for Ukraine. At the Riga Summit, we plan to address Russian war crimes, our efforts to ensure accountability for these crimes, and the implementation of sanctions aimed at limiting Russia’s access to resources for its war efforts,” said the Speaker of the Saeima.

The Speaker of the Saeima and the Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament issued a joint statement reaffirming their steadfast support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, firmly rejecting any illegal attempts to alter Ukraine’s territorial boundaries.

In the statement, they emphasised the necessity of holding the aggressor and the participating states, along with their military and political leaders, accountable to restore the principle of the rule of law globally. They also expressed support for the establishment of a special tribunal. Furthermore, the communication encourages further practical measures to develop a mechanism for compensating the Ukrainian people for the damages incurred as a result of Russian actions.

The Latvian and Ukrainian counterparts also emphasised the need to further enhance bilateral parliamentary cooperation as a vital component of the relationship between Ukraine and Latvia. Additionally, they advocated for the promotion of interparliamentary relations between Ukraine, the Baltic States, Poland, and the Nordic countries.

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Saeima Press Service