On Monday, 21 February, the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee adopted a statement on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, strongly condemning the decision of the Russian Federation to recognise the independence of the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk "people's republics". 

"With this step, Russia has effectively attacked the statehood of Ukraine by attempting to arbitrarily change the borders of sovereign states. We must react immediately, the Kremlin must realise that its aggressive, imperialist policy will not be accepted as the new status quo", said Rihards Kols, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima. 

"After the Second World War, international norms were created regarding the refrainment of great powers from using military superiority to deprive smaller or weaker states of their territory. Yet, Russia has done exactly that, so the world must react and defend both Ukraine and the democratic world based on international law", indicated the Chair of the Committee. 

In the Statement, the Foreign Affairs Committee emphasises that the Russian Federation violates Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its international obligations. Such action is incompatible with the refrainment from the threat or use of force set out in the principles of international law. 

This step by the Russian Federation is in clear contradiction with the terms of the Minsk Agreements and significantly hampers the efforts to settle the conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, including the Normandy format talks, note Members of the Committee, referencing the Statement. 

In its Statement, the Foreign Affairs Committee condemns the aggression committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine since 2014 and reaffirms the unwavering support of the Republic of Latvia for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. 

The MPs call on the Russian Federation to reverse its decision to recognise the independence of the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk "people's republics", to engage constructively in the Normandy format talks, as well as to cease all further aggression and provocations against Ukraine, to return its troops to their bases, and to comply with its obligations under international agreements. 

As set out in the Statement, the Foreign Affairs Committee urges the international community to actively support Ukraine and calls on international organisations – the United Nations, the European Union, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe, etc. – to take immediate action by imposing sanctions on the Russian Federation and its officials responsible for this attack on the statehood of Ukraine. 

Saeima Press Service