Latvia is willing to consider deploying troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping mission, but only under specific conditions, according to Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs.
Speaking to Delfi, he emphasized that any decision would require careful evaluation of Latvia’s security interests and the deployment’s terms.
Two Key Conditions
Rinkēvičs outlined two critical factors that must be addressed before Latvia commits troops.
First, the mission must clearly strengthen Latvia’s own security and defense capabilities. The government must ensure that sending troops abroad does not weaken Latvia’s ability to protect itself.
Second, Latvia needs solid guarantees regarding its forces’ safety. Rinkēvičs warned that if Article 5 of NATO’s Charter (which ensures collective defense) does not apply, or if there is no equivalent security mechanism, Latvian soldiers could face serious risks without assured backup.
“If someone attacks Ukrainian soldiers, we will have to come to their aid, but without proper guarantees, we might not receive sufficient support,” he said.
Premature Discussion?
Despite the discussion around peacekeepers, Rinkēvičs remains skeptical about the timing. He pointed out that ceasefire negotiations haven’t even begun, and at this stage, only dialogue between Russia and the United States is taking place.
"I simply cannot imagine how one can hold negotiations without Ukraine's participation and think that Ukraine will fulfill them," he stated, stressing that any deal made without Kyiv’s involvement would be unrealistic.
Rinkēvičs also expressed doubts about Russia’s sincerity in peace talks, stating that Moscow may use negotiations as a tactic to regroup rather than genuinely seeking an end to the war.
"I have a feeling now that whatever good intentions the US may have to end the war, for Russia, this is just a pause to regroup and at some point start it again," he warned.
While Latvia considers the possibility of peacekeepers, Lithuania has instead focused on military training efforts. Vilnius has signaled its willingness to send military instructors to train Ukrainian forces, but has not yet discussed deploying peacekeeping troops.
