HODGES: I hated that phrase regarding Ukraine that Biden used, others picked up, “We’re with you for as long as it takes.” What an empty, meaningless statement of zero commitment. Absence of a clearly defined strategic objective contributed to our failure in last administration.
I express my sincere gratitude to Latvia’s Minister of Defense, Andris Sprūds, for the productive cooperation and support for Ukraine. Latvia has been, and remains, our reliable ally. I am grateful to our Latvian partners for their clear understanding of what is at stake here in our part of Europe and in this war.
I welcome the decision to nominate Colonel Raivis Melnis as the new head of Latvia’s Ministry of Defense. We know the Colonel well from his work in Ukraine – he has seen the war firsthand in the Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
We hope for further expansion of strategic cooperation between our countries, particularly in the exchange of military experience in the defense industry, the development of drones, and electronic warfare systems.
KALLAS: First, giving Russia right to appoint negotiator on our behalf would not be very wise.
Second, Schröder has been high-level lobbyist for Russian state-owned companies, it’s clear why Putin wants him as negotiator. He would actually be sitting on both sides of the table.
"Not a lot of guys get an opportunity like that."
Arturs Silovs reflects on what it meant to represent Latvia at the #WinterOlympics: https://t.co/5DCnw3CyDI
The true "Olympic principle" according to the IOC today is money—and being exploited by authoritarians willing to spread it around. Disqualifying a Ukrainian athlete for a quiet act of remembrance of his murdered fellows aligns with decades of Russian corruption in sport.
Latvijas izlases virknējumi pret Šveici
Vilmanis-Girgensons-Tralmaks
RiBukarts-Bļugers-Balcers
Krastenbergs-Ločmelis-Daugaviņš
RoBukarts-Batņa-Dzierkals
Egle, Ravinskis
Rubīns-Balinskis
Zīle-Jaks
Mamčics-Šmits
Freibergs-Cibuļskis