Latvian foreign minister says European leaders should not fear provoking Putin and must not push Ukraine to make concessions
CNN
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs on Wednesday said European leaders must not be deterred by a fear of provoking Russian President Vladimir Putin and the international community must not pressure Ukraine into making concessions to end the war.
In an exclusive interview with CNN in Washington, DC, Rinkēvičs also outlined Latvia's key goals for NATO's approach to the eastern flank -- namely, a long-term military presence -- and expressed concern about the mounting food crisis caused by Russia's blockade of Ukrainian ports.
Rinkēvičs' visit to DC came as US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that "Ukraine is facing pivotal moment on the battlefield" and the Biden administration unveiled a new tranche of military assistance to Ukraine -- a move to bolster Kyiv as the war nears the end of its fourth month. The Latvian foreign minister will meet with lawmakers and Biden administration officials while in the nation's capital ahead of the NATO Summit in Madrid later this month.
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