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“We strongly condemn Russia’s massive attacks on Ukraine and its civilian population. Ukraine has to be part of the common European defence system. We greatly admire you and wish you continued strength and resilience during this time. We hope that our next meeting will already be marked by your victory,” said Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Tuesday, 2 June, during a meeting at the parliament with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and her delegation. The Ukrainians thanked Latvia for its comprehensive support.
The Speaker of the Saeima emphasised that Ukraine can count on Latvia’s support, and that it will continue to keep this issue on the international agenda. This is also a priority for the United Nations Security Council, where Latvia began its term earlier this year. Likewise, Latvia calls on other countries to follow our example and commit to allocating a specific percentage of their gross domestic product to support Ukraine.
The Saeima delegation expressed support for Ukraine’s integration into the European Union, emphasising it as a vital security guarantee. The parliamentarians commended Ukraine’s determination and the work accomplished in implementing reforms, expressing their readiness to assist and share their experience on the path to EU membership.
Speaker Mieriņa and Prime Minister Sviridenko also discussed incidents involving drones entering Latvian airspace.
Regarding Russia’s aggression, the sanctions policy was highlighted. Both delegations agreed that it is necessary to continue maintaining sanctions pressure on Russia and its supporters in order to achieve maximum isolation of the aggressor state. Discussing recent cases where athletes and artists from aggressor states were allowed to participate in international events, the Ukrainian side called for sanctions to be directed against representatives of these professions as well.
The Speaker of the Saeima and Prime Minister Sviridenko also discussed a planned charity campaign dedicated to supporting women in the Ukrainian armed forces by ensuring the purchase of necessary equipment, thereby protecting women’s lives. Approximately 70 000 women currently serve in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, 10 000 of whom are on active duty. The campaign is dedicated to the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence and will be carried out in cooperation with the non-governmental organisation Zemliachky.
The parties also discussed issues related to child protection, including the return of deported Ukrainian children to their homes and safeguarding them from Russia’s attempts at militarisation.
Prime Minister Sviridenko and her delegation also met in parliament with Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica and Antoņina Ņenaševa, Deputy Speakers of the Saeima, Jānis Grasbergs, Deputy Secretary of the Saeima, Raimonds Bergmanis, Chair of the Saeima Defence, Internal Affairs, and Corruption Prevention Committee, and Jānis Skrastiņš, Head of the Saeima Group for Cooperation with the Ukrainian Parliament.
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Saeima Press Service