Latvia calls for emergency EU meeting

The move comes in response to a major offensive launched by Russia-backed rebels in Eastern Ukraine that has made a mockery of attempts to broker a peace deal and killed dozens.

"I call for extraordinary EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting next week, fully support action by HR @FedericaMog addressing situation in UA" Rinkevics said via Twitter.

In a separate statement Saturday evening the Latvian Foreign Ministry said it was increasingly evident that Russia "is not interested in a peaceful resolution of the conflict" in Ukraine as a result of events in Mariupol.

"The Foreign Ministry of Latvia categorically condemns the new escalation of violence in the east of Ukraine. It becomes increasingly obvious that pro-Moscow terrorist groups with their attacks in Mariupol and elsewhere in eastern Ukraine, by targeting civilians in an inhumane and cynical manner, also demonstrate beyond a doubt that Russia is not interested in a peaceful resolution of the conflict," the statement said.

"Peace initiatives" proposed by Russia and involvement in multilateral negotiations have possibly been only simulation and mask for real action.

"Those who trigger aggression must be aware that the international community will react decisively and firmly to escalations of the conflict."

Meanwhile northern neighbor Estonia has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the situation in Ukraine.
 

Latvia also said it "conveys its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the Ukrainian people over the shelling of residential areas in Mariupol on 24 January that resulted in the tragic death of at least ten civilians. Latvia also strongly condemns this act of violence."

By Sunday morning there was still no confirmation of when the EU meeting might take place, but a meeting of the UN Security Council took place with Russia predictably blocking condemntion of the Mariupol attack.

Influential voices including the respected former Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said Europe faced a defining moment.

On Sunday evening, the EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, announced the extraordinary meeting of EU foreign ministers would not take place until Thursday 29 January.