Latvia’s Defense Minister Andris Spruds emphasized that there are approximately two million soldiers in Europe, stating that “we can do a lot”.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“There are countries that are currently also discussing, considering at the national level, what they can do. Of course, involvement is extremely important. We must remember that there are about 2 million soldiers in Europe, meaning 2 million in uniform. So, in reality, we can do a lot. The other question is how effective we are, how capable we are of forming mobile forces. And again, this is a broader context. What is a peace agreement or the framework for a ceasefire? So, there are several pieces of the puzzle that we need to put together.”
According to Spruds, a relevant topic is the discussion of “assurance forces.” He noted that Latvia is potentially also ready to contribute, but this is linked to commitments regarding a peace agreement or ceasefire parameters.
The head of Latvia’s Ministry of Defense stressed that for Latvia and neighboring countries located on the eastern flank, it is important to ensure regional protection against aggressors. “Therefore, of course, while providing military personnel or representatives or contributions to the ‘calming forces’ in Ukraine, we must not weaken our own defense while being on the border with an aggressor country. And we take this very seriously,” he emphasized.
Additionally, on April 10, the first meeting of defense ministers from 30 countries in the format of the “coalition of the willing” will take place at NATO headquarters in Brussels, aimed at ensuring long-term peace in Ukraine. This initiative was launched in February by France and the United Kingdom.
At the summit on March 27 in Paris, representatives from 27 countries discussed guarantees for Ukraine following a possible ceasefire agreement, including the potential deployment of “coalition of the willing” forces on its territory.
French President Emmanuel Macron noted that the Western contingents proposed by the “coalition of the willing” led by France and the United Kingdom will not be stationed on the front line but will operate at strategic points in the peace zone as security support forces.