Riga, Latvia – Latvia’s newly appointed Foreign Minister, Baiba Braže, embarked on her first official trip abroad to war-torn Ukraine on April 26th, 2024. This pivotal visit underscores Ukraine’s critical role in Latvian foreign policy and unwavering solidarity with Ukraine’s fight for freedom against Russia’s aggression.
Braže’s visit was packed with high-level meetings. She met with her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, where they discussed pressing issues in bilateral relations, security, and economic cooperation. Braže reaffirmed Latvia’s unwavering commitment to advocating for stricter EU sanctions against Russia and taking concrete actions to cripple Russia’s war machine.
The Latvian Foreign Minister, along with Kuleba, paid their respects at the Wall of Remembrance, honoring Ukrainian soldiers who perished in the ongoing war. Braže also met with Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada). She reiterated Latvia’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts, particularly in the Chernihiv region, which recently faced devastating Russian missile strikes. Furthermore, Braže confirmed plans for the Latvian Parliament to host a summit on the Crimean Platform’s parliamentary dimension in Riga this coming autumn. She also expressed Latvia’s gratitude for their active role in securing the return of Ukrainian children deported by Russia.
Braže didn’t stop there. She conferred with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, discussing concrete steps to accelerate Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration process and Latvia’s continued support. Additionally, they confirmed a meeting of the Latvian-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Commission on economic, industrial, scientific, and technical cooperation planned for May.
During her visit, Braže also met with Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. Their discussions centered on Ukraine’s EU membership aspirations and ways to bolster closer cooperation with NATO, paving the way for potential Ukrainian membership in the alliance.
Braže’s visit extended beyond political meetings. She met with Oleksandr Lytvynenko, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, and toured a thermal power plant recently restored after sustaining damage in 2022. She was accompanied by Mykola Kolisnyk, Deputy Minister for Energy.