On Tuesday 8 August, the Government supported Latvia’s accession to the G7 Joint Declaration of 12 July 2023 on the long-term support for Ukraine.
Accession to the G7 Declaration confirms that Latvia’s support to Ukraine remains consistent also in the long-term. Latvia will continue to provide political, economic, military, financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and its people, as well as promote Ukraine’s recovery. Latvia’s support to Ukraine’s long-term goals – membership of the European Union and NATO – will remain steadfast, in joint cooperation with the allies and partners assisting Ukraine in implementing the reforms necessary to achieve these goals. Latvia retains its position that the Russian leadership must be held accountable for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, and calls for the establishment of an ad hoc international tribunal.
Latvia has been one of the most active supporters of Ukraine since Russia’s unprovoked and illegal full-scale military aggression against Ukraine. Latvia was among the first countries to deliver weapons to Ukraine for self-defence at the very beginning of Russia’s military aggression. Since the start of the war, the Ukrainian civilians have been provided with a safe refuge in Latvia. Furthermore, Latvia continues the 2022 initiated contribution to the restoration of the devastated infrastructure, by engaging in 2023 in the reconstruction in the Chernihiv region. This year, the social infrastructure will be reconstructed and the support centres for women who are victims of violence will be established, as well as housing damaged during the war will be rebuilt. Latvia and its global partners contribute actively to holding the Russian officials and military leadership responsible for the most serious international crimes committed against Ukraine and its people, as well as invoking Russia’s responsibility for internationally wrongful acts.
The G7 – the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada and Japan – adopted a joint declaration of support to Ukraine on 12 July 2023. To date, a number of other countries supporting Ukraine, including the Nordic countries, as well as the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council have joined the declaration. The declaration includes a comprehensive set of commitments reflecting the dedication of the G7 and other countries that have joined the declaration to provide further long-term military, economic, financial and political support to Ukraine, with an emphasis on a possible transition from emergency solutions to more predictable long-term support solutions to Ukraine.