The coming days will show whether the United States will adjust its policy toward the aggressor state Russia, Latvia’s Ambassador to NATO, Māris Riekstiņš, said in an interview with the Latvian Television programme Rīta Panorāma.
He explained that Russia’s intensified airstrikes on Ukraine in recent days demonstrate that, unlike Ukraine, Russia is not prepared for a ceasefire. For Latvian politicians and foreign policy makers, this is no surprise, the diplomat added.
This, he said, confirms the need for the international community to increase political, financial, and military support for Ukraine, while also tightening sanctions against Russia. According to Riekstiņš, only Russia’s inability to achieve success on the front line might force it to come to the negotiating table and result in solutions acceptable to both sides.
The ambassador reminded that U.S. President Donald Trump, since taking office, has attempted to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table, but these efforts have failed due to Russia’s effectively dismissive response. As a result, the U.S. administration may now be compelled to adjust its approach to the conflict.
When asked whether such a shift from the U.S. can really be expected—despite Trump’s occasionally flattering remarks about the Russian dictator—Riekstiņš replied that the coming days could be decisive in this matter.
The ambassador also noted that further progress is expected soon on a sanctions bill against Russia, prepared by U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham,
which has already been co-signed by more than 80 senators.
“So I think the coming days could be crucial for seeing what those policy adjustments [toward Russia] will be. Personally, I would predict that adjustments must follow, because, as I said, efforts to stop this conflict, this aggression and killing of people through negotiations are being blatantly ignored by Russia. They are showing in a brutal, unequivocal manner that they are simply not interested in such a scenario,” Riekstiņš stated.
As reported, U.S. President Trump on Sunday strongly criticized Russian dictator Vladimir Putin for the attacks on Ukraine that are killing civilians, declaring that Putin “has gone completely insane.”
“I’ve always had a very good relationship with (…) Putin, but something has happened to him. He’s gone completely crazy!” Trump wrote Sunday evening on his social media platform Truth Social.
He emphasized that Putin “is unnecessarily killing many people,” noting that “missiles and drones are being launched at Ukrainian cities for no reason.”
Trump made these statements after 12 people were killed in a Russian missile and drone strike on Ukraine during the night before.
In his post, the U.S. president also warned that if Putin attempts to conquer all of Ukraine, it “will lead to Russia’s downfall!”
However, Trump also expressed dissatisfaction with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stating that he “is not doing his country any good by speaking the way he does.”
“Everything that comes out of his mouth creates problems. I don’t like it, and it would be better if it stopped,” Trump wrote.
Shortly before that, Trump criticized Putin while speaking with journalists in Morristown, New Jersey.
“I’m not happy with what Putin is doing. He’s killing a lot of people. And I don’t know what the hell has happened to him,” Trump said before boarding a plane to Washington.
“I’ve known him for a long time, we’ve always gotten along, but he’s launching missiles at cities and killing people, and I really don’t like it,” the U.S. president said, adding that he was “very surprised” by Putin’s actions.
When asked by a reporter, Trump said that he is “definitely” considering imposing tougher sanctions on Russia.