Baltic and Nordic countries pledge support to Ukraine "for as long as it takes"

The joint visit to Kyiv was made by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden.

According to a release from the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rinkēvičs "underlined that Latvia supported efforts to establish a Special Tribunal for the investigation into and prosecution of the crime of aggression. A strong, united and decisive response is needed to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the Minister said. There is currently no international mechanism having jurisdiction over the investigation and prosecution of Russia’s crime of aggression. Latvia believes that such a loophole in accountability mechanisms cannot be permitted, in order to prevent similar crimes from occurring again. Setting up a special tribunal is not an easy matter; nevertheless, a vast political support would send an unambiguous signal to Russia that impunity will not be tolerated, the Latvian Foreign Minister pointed out."  

Rinkēvičs also said Russia would have to compensate Ukraine for losses caused during the war and welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on the need to establish an international mechanism of reparation.

Rinkēvičs "noted that Latvian companies, local authorities and individual donors were actively providing support with the aim of resumption of power supply in Ukraine. The Minister reaffirmed that Latvia was prepared to offer assistance towards the reconstruction of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure," the MFA said.

“Russia sees that it cannot win on the battlefield because Ukraine is strong, and transatlantic partners are united in their support for Ukraine. Therefore, Russia resorts to terrorist methods again,” the Foreign Minister noted. 

The Ministers also issued a joint statement which concludes: "This is part of our collective responsibility to make sure that justice, human rights and international law prevail. We will continue our close collaboration in ensuring strong political financial and military support to Ukraine for as long as it takes. We reiterate our demand for the immediate cessation of the military aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation as well as for the full, immediate and unconditional withdrawal of its forces and military equipment from Ukraine’s territory."