The visit took place against the backdrop of continuing Russian attacks against Ukraine resulting in further loss of lives, injuries, and widespread destruction.
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže said: “The NB8 countries are the world’s second largest donor in terms of support to Ukraine. We visited Odesa because the city is strategically important not only to Ukraine’s economy and security, but also globally, as grain is shipped from the ports of Odesa through the Black Sea corridor to across the globe.
"It is astounding that Ukraine has brought back the cargo handling volumes to pre-war levels and is capable of both growing and shipping grain. At the same time, Odesa is currently subject to increasingly intense attacks by Russia, which demonstrates, once again, that Ukraine must be provided all the military and financial support it neds to strengthen its combat capabilities and air defences – and this also includes lifting any restrictions on Ukraine from using long-range weapons on military targets inside Russia. We, NB8 ministers all agree on this.”
She also noted it was important to continue strengthening sanctions against both Russia and its co-aggressors to undermine support for Russia’s machinery of war economy and emphasized that Latvia and Ukraine would cooperate on tackling sanction circumvention issues in future.
The delegation was received in Odesa by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, to discuss the current situation.
The Ministers then met with the Commander of the Naval Forces of the Ukrainian Navy, Vice Admiral Oleksyi Neizhpapa, and with officials from the Prosecutor General’s Office, who briefed them on the evidence obtained for war crimes perpetrated by Russia against Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.
The Ministers paid a visit to the Odesa military hospital and met wounded soldiers.
"The visit to the hospital was emotionally charged and very encouraging – the morale and spirit of the Ukrainians is unbreakable,” Baiba Braže said.
The visit took place a day after the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers allocated EUR 1 736 000 from funding previously earmarked for this purpose in this year’s State budget for measures of comprehensive support and reconstruction of Ukraine.
