Latvia tells the West: Prepare for a quick response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine | Ukraine

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A quick retaliatory package should be prepared against Russia — including US forces and Patriot missiles stationed in the Baltic states, cutting Russia off its rapid bank payments system, and reimposing sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline — in the event of an invasion of Ukraine, the Latvian foreign minister said.

The warning from Edgars Rinkēvis comes as Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin prepare for talks about rising tensions.

The United States said it would send reinforcements to NATO’s eastern flank in the event of an invasion, as well as impose tough new economic measures against Russia.

Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgar Rinkovic

With an estimated 100,000 Russian soldiers already gathered within walking distance of the border, the situation is the worst since 2015, when Moscow launched a large-scale incursion into Ukraine, secretly sending tanks and artillery to encircle Ukrainian forces and forcing Kiev to sign. A peace agreement in Minsk has since come close to collapse.

Rinkovic said he had already discussed the issue with US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, when Latvia hosted the NATO foreign ministers summit last week.

“Russia should know that if it does something bad in Ukraine, the American and NATO presence in the eastern flank of the alliance will increase. If you do this, it will provoke a greater presence than now,” he said.

These decisions had to be made now through bilateral and coalition channels, so if Russia acted, there could be a rapid and large-scale response that would not take months or years.

“A tough economic sanctions package is already being worked on, including disconnecting Russia from the rapid banking system, imposing sanctions on the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and other economic sanctions. This package should be prepared so that it can be applied reasonably quickly. We need to be able on targeting those who help Russia get more revenue.

In addition, there should be an increase in NATO’s presence in the eastern flank and the Black Sea. If there is military activity in Europe, and an aggressive attitude on the part of the Russian Federation, we must be ready to defend the territory of the Alliance and send a clear signal that this is a direct consequence of Russian activity. ”

He added that Russia needs to tell NATO that it will not accept its red lines on the accession of countries such as Ukraine and Georgia to the alliance. “If the country in question is ready to join NATO, this is a sovereign decision of NATO and there will be no interference from a third country,” he said.

He also said that regardless of whether there was an invasion, it would be possible at the last minute to prevent the near-complete Nord Stream 2 pipeline from moving forward, saying that it was up to EU energy ministers: “…This is an EU decision and it can be achieved.” Some European countries have started procedures requiring the European Commission to verify the applicability of EU law to Nord Stream. There is no easy direct answer.”

The pipeline, which bypasses the existing route through Ukraine, would deprive Kiev of much-needed transit revenue, and make Europe more dependent on Russian gas at a time of rising prices and geopolitical tension.

He warned that, “If NATO fails to protect its member states or their territories, it will not be just a military and political failure but a complete mental breakdown of the value system built since the end of World War II.. It would mean that the entire transatlantic community would be in complete disarray and that The glue that keeps us together has failed.”

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