Latvian Defense Minister: Kremlin Should Ask Itself Why All Its Neighbors Seek NATO Membership

According to Pabriks, the defense minister of NATO member Latvia, the Baltic states will seek to change the “decades-long” military asymmetry on their borders with Russia in the face of Moscow's latest aggression. The Latvian defense minister spoke to Current Time on March 17 from Riga.

**

RFE/RL has one of the largest local reporter networks in Ukraine and the region.

It includes reporting from frontline positions in Donbas to the vulnerable cities of Kharkiv, Odesa, Lviv, and Kyiv.

We serve as the trusted source of news locally in 23 countries without a free press.

#russia #ukraine

[unknownhuman]

Very well said and straight to the point. Some politicians could learn communication skills from this guy.

[mrc]

Putin wants everyone to respect Russia's sovereignty, but Putin doesn't see why he should respect anyone else's sovereignty. Pabriks nailed it.

[NC]

Absolutely correct. Russia could have been a valued and prosperous leader in Eurasia. But Putin chose violence and intimidation instead of trade and diplomacy.

[kimwit]

This guy nails it. Russia chose to be a bad neighbor and now is surprised that all his neighbors want to join the neighborhoodwatch to keep him in check.

[whitescar]

The fundamental problem is that Russia does not respect its neighbors or their rights as sovereign states.

[GT-oxpe]

THIS was the most realistic explanation of what is going on in this case with the countries surrounding Russia.

[bobjohnbowles]

One of the stated reasons for Russia's aggression towards Ukraine is their unwillingness to let Ukraine join NATO. The irony is their behaviour towards Ukraine is precisely why Ukraine and the other states to Russia's west are so keen to join NATO.

Putin is NATO's best advert.

[simonkormendy]

I agree, the problem isn't in the Ukraine, or all the other NATO countries, the problem is in Russia itself, more specifically, the problem is Mr Putin himself.

[eurobonusabc]

Finally a politician who says the obvious in public.

[pat]

Straight to the point, no bullshitting around the issue. We need more politicians like this.

[ety]

I am 49 years old, for the most of my life I have been very worried about what Russia could do, I am a little tired of being worried, no country should b allowed to bully their neighbours the way Russia has been doing. Putin is WEAK and he is a COWARD! GO UKRAINE!

[ΟικονομουΠαυλος]

VERY WELL SAID!!! GREECE STANDS FOR UKRAINE AND NATO!!!

[agris]

This is exactly why this guy is the best minister we have.

[rorygee]

As I repeatedly say, NATO has not moved east it is the East that has moved west.

[Rsama]

This man is so right. I had a discussion lately with a woman who just argued that the west betrayed Russia by letting 11 former Warsaw treaty nations join NATO despite the promise not to expand NATO eastwards. My reply: those nations know Russia. If they would trust Russia they would not be eager to join NATO.

[kevinn]

Bingo. What a clever man. People aren't running to move into Russia, they want freedom. They are moving to places they can thrive, be respected, and participate in forming their future.

[TheArrowedKnee]

Exactly this. NATO doesen't want to intentionally expand eastward. But if countries themselves want to join, NATO is open to it.

[samuelweir]

If I were a citizen of a European country close to the Russian border, you bet that I would want my country to join NATO as protection against Russia.

[michaelivey]

This is an impactful statement, delivered concisely and directly to the colonizer, by the formerly oppressed and colonized, in the colonizer’s own language.

It’s a masterclass in direct communications: don’t beat around the bush and talk in subtleties; speak directly to the interlocutor and concisely convey what your people and your neighbors are feeling and speak with strength and brevity.

Good show sir.

[kumoitojp]

This has always been my point. Everyone says “NATO IS EXPANDING EAST”. NO! Russia is chasing its neighbors West!