Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs estimates that Russia’s war of aggression will continue for years. He met President Sauli Niinistö on Thursday in Helsinki.
– If Russia feels that it has achieved its goals (by attacking Ukraine), then it can challenge even more disputes.
This is the opinion of the President of Latvia Edgars Rinkevičs. He met the president on Thursday Sauli Niinistön in Helsinki.
President Edgars Rinkēvičs estimates that the war of aggression started by Russia in Ukraine is not going to end right away, but Europe should be prepared for a long conflict.
– It’s not worth looking only at the next few weeks or months. We have to look at the next few years.
Edgars Rinkēvičs points out that the situation must be looked at without sensitivity, that is why the defense must react to the environment with a careful eye.
In particular, Latvia is focusing on enhancing air and coastal defense.
– Things change quickly and all the time, says the president of Latvia.
“No rush to get ready, we’re already in a hurry”
President Sauli Niinistö reminded that he had already thought about the start of the Russian war of aggression in the spring of 2022, that we must be prepared for all theoretical possibilities.
– Through our NATO membership, our security is maximal. The deterrent created by NATO is important here. I think it has also been noticed in Russia, says President Sauli Niinistö.
President Sauli Niinistö reminds that Finland has invested heavily in defense in recent years. The most recent additions are NATO membership and the decision to acquire F35 fighters.
– There is no particular rush to get ready, because we are already in a hurry, says President Niinistö.
Immigrants as a weapon
Both Finland and Latvia share a border with Russia, so border issues became an important part of the presidents’ discussions at the Presidential Palace.
Latvian President Rinkēvičs says that it is visible in Latvia’s border regions that, for example, we are already in a hybrid war with Belarus.
– Migrants are already used as a kind of weapon at the borders, President Rinkēvičs says.
He estimates that in the future, in addition to migrants, energy weapons and the spread of propaganda will increasingly be used as weapons in hybrid operations.
President Niinistö says that Finland listens with interest to Latvia’s experiences with Belarus’ hybrid operations.
Niinistö estimates that for now both Finland’s and Latvia’s border with Russia is very peaceful. Due to its war of aggression, Russia has moved its troops from these border regions to the battlefields in Ukraine.