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"There is a strong determination in Latvian society to support Ukraine. We are with you in the fight for victory—both in practical assistance and in international advocacy of support for Ukraine. We wish you strength, endurance, and unwavering hope," said Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Monday, 11 December, as she welcomed Olena Kondratiuk, Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine, to the Saeima. The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Speakers of the Saeima—Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica and Antoņina Ņenaševa. 

On behalf of her Parliament and people, the Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada thanked Latvians for their support, stressing that every donated cent and euro strengthens Ukraine's sovereignty. As Olena Kondratiuk emphasised, Latvia serves as a role model for other countries. She also thanked Latvia for the fact that the recently approved Latvian state budget for 2024, as did the one for 2023, includes five million euros to support reconstruction in Chernihiv Oblast. Military training and rehabilitation of wounded soldiers in Latvia are also examples of important support for Ukraine. 

Speaker Mieriņa welcomed the progress of Ukraine's reforms, stressing that the recently adopted package of anti-corruption bills is a strong signal that the country is doing its utmost to be admitted to the European Union. "Every signal that you are doing your homework is important. Latvia is in favour of Ukraine becoming a member of the European Union. This is vital for the development of the whole of Europe," Mieriņa said. Ukraine could break Russia's chain of influence by joining the EU, Kondratiuk added. 

The two sides discussed the import of grain, including maize, from Russia, stressing that the latter is using the proceeds to finance the war. Mieriņa noted that such "bloody grain" should not be allowed to enter the Latvian and European markets and called for sanctions to be imposed on these food products. "It is important to look for other solutions at European level to provide food programmes to those countries that need it most. We can see that Member States have already started discussions on such sanctions, and this is largely thanks to the initiative of Latvia and the other Baltic States," said Speaker Mieriņa. 

Deputy Chair Kondratiuk thanked the Saeima for its support and stance on the issue of returning home Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. The exact number of deported children is unknown, but estimates suggest that it could be up to one hundred thousand, and only a small fraction of them have returned home. Olena Kondratiuk praised the achievements of inter-parliamentary cooperation organisations, including the Latvian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. 

As highlighted by Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima and Head of the Latvian Delegation to the Assembly, Ukrainian children were a priority of the parliamentary dimension of Latvia's recent Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. This issue will also be of high relevance in the future sessions and meetings of the Assembly. It is significant that this year the deportations of Ukrainian children by Russia were recognised by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe as a crime of genocide. 

Kalniņa-Lukaševica said that, just as last year, the Saeima would prepare gifts for Ukrainian children at its annual Christmas charity event. This year the Saeima will also present Ukraine with a van that has been used for the Parliament's own needs until now. The van will bring the gifts prepared by the Saeima to students of a boarding school in the Yablunivka village, Chernihiv Oblast. 

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Saeima Press Service