“The people of Latvia side firmly with the people of Ukraine, and our support for Ukraine will never end. We stand with you and we will stay by your side. We will support your fight for victory and your journey towards NATO and the EU,” said Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Tuesday, 16 January, in Kyiv at a meeting with Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The delegation led by the Speaker of the Saeima visited Kyiv to affirm solidarity with the Ukrainian people and express unwavering support for the sovereignty of Ukraine. 

Today in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, the Latvian Parliament delegation also met with Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine, and Rustem Umerov, Minister of Defence, and laid flowers at the Wall of Remembrance. In addition, the Saeima delegation visited the residential buildings destroyed in Russia’s recent missile strikes.

Ukrainian officials thanked the people of Latvia for their selfless military, humanitarian, and diplomatic assistance, underlining that Ukrainian officials and citizens alike hold Latvia’s contribution in high esteem. Members of the Saeima admitted that Latvia should also thank Ukraine whose painful lessons have urged us to mobilise and strengthen our security.

Complete and genuine Ukrainian victory in this war cannot be possible unless the aggressor is prosecuted for its war crimes. Russia’s top leadership must be held accountable, and we will remain steadfast in our support for establishing an ad hoc international tribunal, stated Speaker Mieriņa.

Parties agreed that we must work together to prevent the circumvention of sanctions and prohibit Russia from accessing technology necessary for continuing weapon production. The officials also discussed closer Latvian-Ukrainian cooperation in military industrial development.

In addition, the Speaker of the Saeima expressed support for using Russia’s frozen assets for the reconstruction of Ukraine, highlighting the recent decision by the Saeima to expropriate the Moscow House in Riga as a good example for other countries.

Regarding parliamentary cooperation, Speaker Mieriņa noted that this year the Saeima will launch a new training and experience transfer programme specifically for the Administration of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

The Speaker of the Saeima together with the Latvian Parliament delegation is currently on a visit to Ukraine. Speaker Mieriņa is accompanied by Antoņina Ņenaševa, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima; Raimonds Bergmanis, Chair of the Defence, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee; Ainars Latkovskis, Chair of the National Security Committee; Jānis Skrastiņš, Chair of the Group for promoting cooperation with the Parliament of Ukraine, and Ināra Mūrniece, member of the Group.

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Saeima Press Service