“The flag of an independent, flourishing Ukraine proudly flies alongside the flags of other European countries and has now become a global symbol of freedom and bravery. Your rightful place is within a united and free Europe,” stated Edvards Smiltēns, Speaker of the Saeima, on Thursday, 24 August, marking the Independence Day of Ukraine, during a commemorative ceremony organised by the Baltic Cooperation Group and the Nordic Ukraine Forum in the Norrmalmstorg Square in Stockholm.

In these turbulent times, with the war raging in Ukraine, we must stand more united than ever before. Russia is continuing its violent war of aggression, and we must do everything possible to hold it accountable for its atrocities. At the same time, as like-minded countries united by common values—freedom, independence, and democracy—we must work shoulder to shoulder to strengthen the security of our region. This is our top priority, stated Edvards Smiltēns, Speaker of the Saeima, on Thursday, 24 August, during a meeting with Andreas Norlén, Speaker of the Swedish Parliament.

"Statehood, its strength, is determined by our people. Above all, by those who care. For our fellow human beings, our nation, and our state. In big and small things. In their family, community, region, and state. By those with flaming hearts, patience, and a sense of purpose. Those who envision Latvia's future and are working to make it better", said Edvards Smiltēns, Speaker of the Saeima, at the Statehood Award ceremony on Monday, 21 August. Today, the Statehood Award, established by the association 4 May Declaration Club, was presented to Vilis Vītols, philanthropist, building contractor, and public figure.

On Wednesday, 28 June, the speakers of the parliaments of the Baltic States issued a joint statement saying: “We are convinced that ultimately Ukraine’s security in the long-run can be best guaranteed by the collective defence of NATO. We call on NATO leaders to start a substantive process of inviting Ukraine to join NATO at the Summit in Vilnius.”

"One hundred years ago, our founding fathers chose the path of parliamentary democracy. It is not an easy path and requires the ability to hear and reconcile different ideas, beliefs and opinions. For the legislative process to work smoothly and constructively in a parliamentary republic, an effective democratic instrument is needed. The Saeima's Rules of Procedure have become such an instrument," said Edvards Smiltēns, Speaker of the Saeima, at the opening of an event to mark the centenary of the Saeima's Rules of Procedure on Thursday, 15 June.

“At present, the fight is not only about the square meters of Ukrainian land, but also about whether the world order in which the force of law prevails or whether it will be redefined as the right to force. Victory in Ukraine means a lot for the global future. Latvia and Germany are close allies in the field of security," said the Speaker of the Saeima Edvards Smiltēns on Thursday, 8 June, meeting with Bärbel Bas, the President of the German Bundestag.

“Every day, every hour, every minute that Russia occupies Ukrainian land, it commits crimes and atrocities there, killing civilians. Today was just another demonstration of the Russian modus operandi. Deliberately destroying the Nova Kakhovka dam in Ukraine is an act of ecological terrorism. Russia is a terrorist state,” stressed Edvards Smiltēns, Speaker of the Saeima, in a statement released on Tuesday, 6 June.

NATO members are expected to present a strong vision of how allies will ensure lasting peace in Europe, including a clear, credible and irreversible marking of Ukraine’s path to NATO at the upcoming summit in Vilnius in July. This was emphasised by the Speaker of the Saeima Edvards Smiltēns on Friday, 2 June, in Vilnius, Lithuania, before the upcoming NATO summit, addressing his counterparts at the meeting of Speakers of Parliaments of the member states of the Alliance.

“You are a dream team, you managed to accomplish the impossible. Bear the Latvian flag with honour, we know that this is just the beginning," said Speaker of the Saeima Edvards Smiltēns, on Monday, 29 May, in a solemn ceremony held in the Riga Castle welcoming Latvian men’s hockey team — bronze medal winners of the 2023 World Ice Hockey Championship.

“Energy strategy decisions cannot be taken by select ministries; they must emerge at the Saeima and with broad political participation, as decisions concerning energy are a matter of national security, the lifeblood of economy, attracting investments, and growth,” emphasised Edvards Smiltēns, Speaker of the Saeima, on Monday, 22 May, at the opening of an energy forum at the Parliament.