Braže urges EU ministers to ban Russian grain imports and transit

At a meeting of the European Union's Foreign Affairs Council, which brings together member states' foreign ministers, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže (New Unity party) again urged the member states to agree on a bloc-wide ban on Russian grain imports and transit, the Latvian Foreign Ministry reported. Latvia has raised the issue before, as part of broader pressure on Russia and Belarus.

Support for Ukraine

During the meeting Braže met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and expressed support for Ukraine. She said that ahead of the coming winter, all forms of assistance must be significantly increased: military, financial, energy and humanitarian. In the discussion on Russia's war in Ukraine, she noted that more than 100 people were killed in Russian attacks last week, while hundreds were wounded. In her view, air defence and the resilience of Ukraine's energy infrastructure against attacks need particular strengthening.

Situation on the Belarus border

Braže briefed ministers on the recent escalation on the Latvia-Belarus border. Several deliberate provocations were recorded last week. In one case, armed and masked individuals pushed at least 20 migrants towards Latvia and threatened Latvian soldiers. In another incident, masked persons cut the border fence, entered Latvian territory, damaged electricity infrastructure and stole surveillance cameras. The minister stressed that this is not only Latvia's border but also the EU's and NATO's external border.

Enlargement and the Middle East

On EU enlargement, Braže said it is a strategic investment in European security. Latvia supports opening all accession negotiation clusters with Ukraine and Moldova this year, but candidate countries must fully align with the EU's foreign policy and its sanctions against Russia and Belarus.

Ministers also discussed the Middle East, including Gaza and the West Bank, as well as cooperation with the Gulf states. Latvia backed diplomatic solutions and a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

On Monday the EU added almost 1,600 Russian individuals and entities to its sanctions list. Once the sanctions take effect, the list will include about 3,500 individuals and entities.