“No one can rule out something like this in the future. There are also lessons at airports of what happens if a plane catches fire while landing, but we are not suggesting that the next plane to land will catch fire. The system must be able to work in all crisis situations.
“Even if the possibility of a potential war is one percent, that percentage is large enough to prepare, especially for those who care for their national security, and to work together, to execute plans to prevent it,” Riekstiņš emphasized.
Both Riekstiņš and Latvian Ambassador to Ukraine Ilgvars Kļava agreed – the war in Ukraine has become a resource war.
“Two years of war are tough but at the same time fundamental truths must be recognized – Russia's blitzkrieg has failed, Russia's invasion has been halted, Ukraine has managed to liberate part of the territory, but now it has entered a long phase and become a war of resources. There needs to be a change of approach, including on the Ukrainian side,“ Kļava said.
“The prevailing view [in Ukraine] is that any ceasefire or peace agreement will be used by Russia to gain respite and to organize for the next attack in Ukraine,” explained Kļava.
Riekstiņš, on the other hand, said that everything will depend on the ability of the Western countries to provide support to Ukraine. He also sees NATO's readiness to secure a victory for Ukraine in this war because the alliance agrees that “this is not a story about one Ukraine, but it is a story about the security of European and NATO countries.”
