Latvian minister says Russia’s brutality cannot should not be underestimated

Russia’s brutality on the battlefield should not be underestimated, said Latvian Minister of Defence Andris Sprūds in an interview to LTV programme Rīta panorāma.
He said the situation on the front [in Ukraine] is challenging and complicated. He added there is a risk of the war going on for longer. According to him, western countries still have a political will and awareness that it is necessary to look for all possible resources to support Ukraine, because this also means defending a rules-based world order at the same time. One of the primary solutions is the commitment to boosting military budgets and paying more attention to military infrastructure.
The minister refrained from making any conclusions about the situation on the front in Ukraine, stressing that “we can depend on the competence of Ukraine’s military and political authorities”.
“Yes, not everything goes as we hope on the front. It is clear that the enemy cannot be underestimated, but we should not overestimate Russia’s ability to be a modern superpower – this is not how it is. Russia has many challenges ahead, as we have to create as many challenges as possible, including economic challenges. But we should not underestimate Russia’s brutality,” stressed the politician, adding that Ukraine’s will to fight has not diminished.
On Monday, the 19th of February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported tat the situation for Ukrainian forces if difficult on multiple areas of the front, because the army is heavily affected by delays of western aid.
Russian forces have restarted their offensive in the south and east of Ukraine. They have taken the city of Avdiivka in Donetsk, securing one more major accomplishment since the taking of Bakhmut in May 2023.
Russian armed forces “are using delays of western aid to Ukraine”, said Zelenskyy, adding that Ukraine is suffering from a shortage of artillery shells and anti-air capabilities, as well as long-range arms.
Also read: Ukraine’s Metinvest warns that Russia’s progress “alarming”
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