There is no indication that Russia wants peace - Braze

RIGA - There are no indications that Russia wants peace when meeting with local business representatives, Foreign Minister Baiba Braze (New Unity) said on Thursday.

The minister's advisor Signe Znotina-Znota told LETA that Braze met with Laura Skrodele, head of the Entrepreneurs for Peace Foundation, Ulvis Noviks, head of the Tavi Draugi association, and Chaplain Elmars Plavins, senior expert on international military-religious cooperation of the National Armed Forces. The aim of the meeting was to discuss cooperation and project coordination to date, including between ministries and interest representation organizations, current reconstruction projects in Ukraine and long-term plans for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Braze stressed that Russia's massive missile and drone attack on Ukrainian civilians on the night of April 24 is further proof that the Kremlin "butcher's" objectives have not changed - there is no indication that Russia wants peace. The Foreign Minister stressed that Russia can only be coerced by force.

She pointed out that all forms of support - military, financial, political and humanitarian - should continue to be given to Ukraine. In her view, legal solutions should be sought to channel all the funds frozen from the Central Bank of Russia to support and reconstruct Ukraine. She is convinced that no one but Russia must pay for what it has done to the Ukrainian people and country.

The Foreign Minister praised the work done by the Entrepreneurs for Peace Foundation and the Tavi Draugi Association in the reconstruction of Ukraine and their commitment to continue. Braze said that the work and experience of the two organizations was unique, given that the reconstruction was taking place in wartime, under specific conditions.

Braze noted that during the meeting the parties discussed concrete proposals for further cooperation, including to promote the involvement of Latvian entrepreneurs in Ukrainian reconstruction projects.