We shouldn’t dramatise the controversial statements spoken in the US White House in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine, said Latvian Minister of Defence Andris Sprūds in an interview to TV3 programme “900 seconds”.
He said that with their statements, the White House administration have shown new sides of foreign policy, but these events should not be dramatised, because “diplomacy doesn’t always go smoothly”. At the same time, it remains important for us to cooperate, because this is in the interests of everyone, both Europe and the US.
“Of course, it is in Ukraine’s interest that a just peace is achieved here, that Russia receives punishment for what it has caused. In the short or long term, it has to get to that point, and we will get there,” the minister noted, stressing that “relations must continue to be built”.
Sprūds reminded that US President Donald Trump did not have an easy time in his previous term.
Nevertheless, strategically and fundamentally, the relationship always remained. NATO, which is important and indispensable to all its members, also plays an important role in this.
Commenting on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting with US President Trump at the White House on Friday, the 28th of February, Sprūds acknowledged that it was certainly not a success, but European countries are now working to be able to return to a unified negotiating table and a unified position.
When asked if Latvia should send troops to Ukraine, Sprūds said such a possibility is not excluded, but first it is necessary to achieve clarity as to the format of the peace that could be achieved and what kind of mission could be put together.
During his visit to the Oval Office on the 28th of February, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy clashed with US President Donald Trump and Vice-President James David Vance. American media reported that Trump administration officials invited Zelenskyy to leave.
After this clash, the leaders of several European countries and Australia expressed their support for Ukraine.
Trump later told reporters that Zelensky “overestimated his prospects” and should agree to end the war “immediately.”
Zelenskyy declined to apologise, saying in an interview with Fox News, “I’m not sure we did anything bad.” He acknowledged, however, that he would have liked the dispute not to take place in the presence of reporters.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Zelenskyy to apologise for his dispute with Trump. He also doubted that Zelenskyy wanted the war to end.