Brussels, Belgium – Latvian Foreign Minister Krišjānis Kariņš urged the European Union to ramp up pressure on Russia during a Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels today. Highlighting the need to weaken Russia’s war machine, Kariņš proposed a 14th round of sanctions that would target agricultural imports and expand existing restrictions on raw materials used in the military industry. Notably, manganese ore and aluminum oxide would be added to the export and transit ban.
The Council addressed a range of pressing issues beyond the ongoing war in Ukraine. Discussions focused on Belarus, where Kariņš advocated for broader sanctions against the Lukashenko regime and continued support for the country’s democratic movement. Regarding the Middle East, the Latvian Foreign Minister stressed the importance of preventing a humanitarian crisis and achieving a two-state solution. The urgent need to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas was also raised.
The Foreign Affairs Council wasn’t the only venue for international collaboration. Kariņš participated in a virtual meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, where the latest developments in the Middle East were a central theme. Additionally, a bilateral meeting with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock focused on countering Russian aggression and bolstering Ukraine’s defense capabilities. Both ministers agreed on the importance of fostering closer cooperation between the defense industries of Latvia and Germany.