Pleasure Thank You for having me. My pleasure. You are the Defence Minister in a baltic nation which is one of ukraines strongest supporters inside the eu and nato. What do you make of ukraines risky gambit, the Offensive Inside Russian territory . It Offensive Inside Russian territory . Offensive inside russian territo .. territory . It was ust recently in ukraine. H territory . It was ust recently in ukraine, and territory . It wasjust recently in ukraine, and what territory . It wasjust recently in ukraine, and what i territory . It wasjust recently in ukraine, and what i see i territory . It wasjust recently in ukraine, and what i see in| in ukraine, and what i see in ukraine, it is resolve, it is resilience, it is theyre willing to take initiative and what we have seen right now is that ukraine is in a position to take this initiative, that it shows also the war is a war of will, the war of the mindset, and we can see that ukraine also shows inaudible. Did you also get a sense of did ukrainian frustration with his allies . It has become clear in the last few weeks that ukraine did not feel able to share any information about this Surprise Offensive with its closest allies. There was a sense in that ukraine but if they told people such as yourself inside dimitri, inside the eu, the advice might be do not do it, ukraine has essentially decided to go it alone. To go it alone. Ukraine has a stron to go it alone. Ukraine has a strong partnership to go it alone. Ukraine has a strong partnership with to go it alone. Ukraine has a| strong partnership with Nato And Eu allies and we have a mutual support to each other in many ways. Mutual support to each other in many ways many ways. You clearly are not informed. Many ways. You clearly are not informed. Any many ways. You clearly are not informed, any of many ways. You clearly are not informed, any of your many ways. You clearly are not| informed, any of your ministers informed, any of your ministers informed about what was forthcoming . Informed about what was forthcomina . forthcoming . Some operations that should forthcoming . Some operations that should be forthcoming . Some operations that should be kept forthcoming . Some operations that should be kept secret forthcoming . Some operations that should be kept secret but| that should be kept secret but again what we have seen this operation between us, there is appreciation from the ukrainian side, what we have done what we supply, side, what we have done what we supply, and at the same time things have gotten faster and on a larger scale, this is what latvia is advocating for. Artistic for a moment longer with this offensive, you say you are behind it and you supported but what is a strategy . What do you think the long Term Plan is for this particular territorial incursion . Particular territorial incursion . incursion . The war of will, the war of initiative, incursion . The war of will, the war of initiative, and incursion . The war of will, the war of initiative, and also incursion . The war of will, the war of initiative, and also as L War of initiative, and also as i said previously, war of initiative, and also as isaid previously, Ukraine War of initiative, and also as i said previously, ukraine has proven it has capabilities because. Proven it has capabilities because. Proven it has capabilities because., ~ ,. Because. Crosstalk. Russia has vulnerabilities. Because. Crosstalk. Russia has vulnerabilities. Taking because. Crosstalk. Russia has vulnerabilities. Taking the | has vulnerabilities. Taking the initiative has happened, it clearly took the russians by surprise and clearly embarrassed vladimir putin. The question now is what happens now . The command of ukrainian forces so they now control more than 1300 square kilometres of russian territory and they have extended the thousand Kilometre Frontline even further and therefore stretched their own resources even further. Do you believe ukraine intends to hold this territory . 1 believe ukraine intends to hold this territory . This territory . I guess when we discuss these this territory . I guess when we discuss these operations this territory . I guess when we discuss these operations it this territory . I guess when we discuss these operations it is i discuss these operations it is not for public discussions, the specifics of the operation. What we have seen that the war has been brought in many ways back to the Aggressor Country, we also have to its lines and to defend and protect its border as well. Ukraine has a full rated it because it is fighting a war of Freedom And Self defence but that is bringing the war back to the Aggressor Country. It is taking initiative. There are specifics that are more operational to continue the whole operation but i assure you that ukrainians know how to do it once more. It is also about the mindset and showing what russians are in russians demonstrate a lot of vulnerability, political and military, and i think this is also the moralfailure military, and i think this is also the moral failure for russia in war in general. Inaudible in the kursk region. Ukrainians claim there is evidence that troops are being diverted to kursk, independent analysts do not see that, do you . I analysts do not see that, do ou . ~.. you . I think that russia needs to somehow you . I think that russia needs to somehow regain you . I think that russia needs to somehow regain those to somehow regain those territories which means also they will have to have a resources and how to do that. You are a Defence Minister and privy to intelligence also do so that russia is diverting troops and resources from that front to kursk . I troops and resources from that front to kursk . Front to kursk . I will go into the Intelligence Front to kursk . I will go into the intelligence details front to kursk . I will go into the intelligence details of i the intelligence details of what we can see is this area of trouble for russia, and every day is a decisive, every day is also challenging for the ukrainian side and the russian side and this has added additional dimensions and vulnerability and challenges to russian size, so they will certainly contemplate what to do with this and either divert on a wider scale or perhaps on another scale. On a wider scale or perhaps on anotherscale. In on a wider scale or perhaps on another scale. Another scale. In the last few da s another scale. In the last few days you another scale. In the last few days you have another scale. In the last few days you have been another scale. In the last few days you have been in another scale. In the last few days you have been in kyiv i another scale. In the last few i days you have been in kyiv and had direct talks with the ukrainian Defence Minister. How do you explain to him that still key supporters of ukraine in the west led by the united states are putting constraints on the way their weapons are used by Ukrainian Military Forces and particular long range missiles which the americans and others as well will not allow to be used against targets deep inside russia . Mil against targets deep inside russia . ,. russia . All i can see that the latvian is russia . All i can see that the latvian is very russia . All i can see that the latvian is very clear russia . All i can see that the latvian is very clear that latvian is very clear that ukrainians could and should use those weapons in a Self Defence against the russians and in russian territory, the aggressor territory. Latvia does not aggressor territory. Latvia does not provide aggressor territory. Latvia does not provide the aggressor territory. Latvia. Does not provide the missiles which could strike deep inside russia. Were talking about the and the british, the french, and the british, the french, and the british, the french, and the germans who will not even give their tourists long range missiles to the ukrainians. These key Countries have not lifted constraints upon use of their long range missiles. What do you say to the ukrainians when they see we have to get this authorisation . Absolutely what we say to them is not only do we supply ukrainians with equipment and drones which have a reach as well and at the same time what well and at the same time what we see that we will do to convince our partners to advocate, all weaponry, all equipment could and should be using is the Aggressor Country in Self Defence. n using is the Aggressor Country in selfdefence. In selfdefence. On that basis i have to in selfdefence. On that basis i have to be in selfdefence. On that basis i have to be frank in selfdefence. On that basis i have to be frank with in selfdefence. On that basis i have to be frank with you, i i have to be frank with you, you are failing, your persuasive efforts are not working with your allies and particularly the americans. Minn; particularly the americans. Why not . I do not particularly the americans. Why not . I do not think particularly the americans. Will not . I do not think we are failing, is a continuous process and we have to take into account domestic constraints at the same time if you look at what has been done so far, again, the glass is half empty or half full, i was a powerful we advocate a more and faster and for Countries which follow the latvian lead, the 25 of gdp are going to ukraine in military support, which means that each of the nato Countries who provides that of the gdp means 135 Billion euros a year of military support. So far we have provided around 120 Billion Euros for 2. 5 years, so thatis billion euros for 2. 5 years, so that is the financial resources that is the financial resources that are crucial but not only about the funding, it is also about the funding, it is also about the funding, it is also about the specific type of equipment we should be used and will will advocate for. I do not believe we are failing. It not believe we are failing. It is important it it is out with you because you are an insider in some of these key discussions inside nato in particular. Help me, why is it for example that the us national Security Adviserjake Sullivan seems to be so preoccupied with the threat of escalation and a rushes read alliance . Volodymyr zelenskyy after the kursk operation, he said this shows that russias redlines are crumbling, but Thatis Redlines are crumbling, but that is not the way it is seen in washington. Help me, why is that . ,. that . Lets face it, the us has been indispensable that . Lets face it, the us has been indispensable with that . Lets face it, the us has been indispensable with me i that . Lets face it, the us has| been indispensable with me to in a strengthening security but also in supporting ukraine. Without us support it will be much more difficult. Crosstalk. Wh is it much more difficult. Crosstalk. Why is it that much more difficult. Crosstalk. Why is it that ukraine much more difficult. Crosstalk. Why is it that ukraine has why is it that ukraine has become more and more convinced that people like Jake Sullivan do not want ukraine to lose this war where they actually do not want ukraine to go out an outright win the war . {iii not want ukraine to go out an outright win the war . Of course there are different outright win the war . Of course there are different approaches, | there are different approaches, there are different approaches, there is again domestic debate but at the same time for latvia it is clear that we have to support ukraine until the release inflicted strategic defeat on a rush to any agreement, that is again, yes, among ourselves, how things should be done, and we are doing all the best to convince our partners that weaponry must be provided and it can be used in the Aggressor Country. This will continue. In the Aggressor Country. This will continue. You in the Aggressor Country. This will continue. You know in the Aggressor Country. This will continue. You know russia well and you are a neighbour of russia, you have a long history in the soviet union. When in the last couple of days, once again, there was a discussion ignited about the russian nuclear strategy by saying that in the light of Ukraine Pleading with western nations to allow it to use long range missiles on targets deep inside russia, russia must again adapt and review the nuclear strategy, does that help you with a neighbour of russia deeply worried . Irate with a neighbour of russia deeply worried . With a neighbour of russia deeply worried . We have been livin deeply worried . We have been living next deeply worried . We have been living next to deeply worried . We have been living next to russia deeply worried . We have been living next to Russia For Living next to russia for decades if not centuries a means that we been ready for a different kind of scenario and there is nothing new in black mailing from the russian inside. I do not think we should focus or overfocus on russian rhetoric and blackmail. We should speak from this position of strength and acts from strength and this is what latvia has been doing already for years and also during the last two years will stop there has been a change of mind there. ,. there. But is an interesting hrase. There. But is an interesting phrase. Positions there. But is an interesting phrase. Positions of there. But is an interesting l phrase. Positions of strength amongst allies. The problem you haveis amongst allies. The problem you have is that your allies are divided. If you look inside veneto and inside the eu, there are deep divisions about strategy on the russia Ukraine War. strategy on the russia Ukraine War... Strategy on the russia Ukraine War... war. That is what russia would like to promote war. That is what russia would like to promote some war. That is what russia would like to promote some of war. That is what russia would like to promote some of the i like to promote some of the cracks... cracks. Come on, it is not ust russia promoting it, it cracks. Come on, it is not ust russia promoting it, it ish russia promoting it, it is basic facts. The president of the Eu Council says the warmer stand and it is counter productive, the ceasefire must happen on the current frontline and he says we must stop sending answer ukraine. we must stop sending answer ukraine.. ukraine. There are some Countries ukraine. There are some Countries that ukraine. There are some Countries that position i ukraine. There are some Countries that position might be critical that the same time if you look at the wider strategic perspective, there was clear Threat Assessment is shared, they have been included as a threat to nato and there has been a clear reputation of nato plans, and there was a clear understanding to support ukraine, so i think also within the european union, the sanctions are packages that have been adopted unanimously, so yes of course sometimes they differ on some of the details and yes, some Countries might also be critical of, but the same time a strategic level we are certainly on the same page. Are you . Whenjoe Biden Et of Nato Membership recently, peace, when it comes to ukraine does not mean Nato Membership, it means we will have a relationship with the ukrainians like we do with other Countries where we supply weapons so they can defend themselves in the future but he said i do not quote the metallisation of ukraine. That could be a metallisation of ukraine. That could be a specific metallisation of ukraine. That could be a specific time metallisation of ukraine. T isgii could be a specific time and it was expressed in such a way but if you look at a long term perspective, and also for us support, us support has been indispensable, and during the Nato Summit it was clearly that., Nato Summit it was clearly that it Nato Summit it was clearly that. It was | that. Crosstalk. It was stated the that. Crosstalk. It was stated the recent that. Crosstalk. It was i stated the recent washington summit, the leadership of president biden, that there is irreversible of the ukrainian inaudible to Nato Membership. There is no timeline. There is no timeline. When It Conditions there is no timeline. When It Conditions and there is no timeline. When It Conditions and allies there is no timeline. When It Conditions and allies agree, i conditions and allies agree, the 32 members of nato, yes, on the 32 members of nato, yes, on the debate as well but the words of being irreversible have been strengthened by specific practical action on establishing the Security Assistance of youve became and providing the measures to strengthen the ukrainian military, so they are practical steps on how we move forward and with allocating specific funding. And with allocating specific fundinu. , and with allocating specific fundinu. V. ~ and with allocating specific fundinu. ,. ~ , and with allocating specific fundinu. ,. ~ ,. funding. Lets take this from the multilateral funding. Lets take this from the multilateral to funding. Lets take this from the multilateral to the the multilateral to the internal and domestic latvia now. Is your country on a War Footing as we speak today with regard to russia . We footing as we speak today with regard to russia . Regard to russia . We are defensively regard to russia . We are defensively ready regard to russia . We are defensively ready for regard to russia . We are defensively ready for all i regard to russia . We are defensively ready for all kinds of scenarios. We are facing hybrid it worked it is right now and will be ready for both