Braže tells EU ministers about armed groups, a cut fence and stolen cameras on Latvia's border
At a European Union Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže briefed colleagues on incidents on the Latvia–Belarus border and called for an EU-wide ban on Russian grain. She also urged more support for Ukraine before winter.
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže (of the Jaunā Vienotība party) briefed fellow ministers at a European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on incidents on the Latvia–Belarus border over the past week. She stressed that this is the EU's and NATO's external border, and called for stronger security there and more pressure on Belarus and Russia, according to Latvia's Foreign Ministry.
Incidents on the border
Braže said several deliberate provocations were recorded last week. In one, armed and masked individuals pushed at least 20 migrants toward the Latvian border and threatened Latvian soldiers. In another, masked individuals cut the border fence, entered Latvian territory, damaged electricity infrastructure and stole surveillance cameras.
"This is not only Latvia's border – it is the EU's and NATO's external border," the minister said.
Support for Ukraine and Russian grain
Braže again urged EU states to agree on a bloc-wide ban on imports and transit of Russian grain. During the meeting she met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and expressed Latvia's support for Ukraine.
She argued that ahead of the coming winter, all forms of aid to Ukraine must grow substantially: military, financial, energy and humanitarian. She pointed to civilians killed in Russian attacks: more than 100 people died last week and hundreds were wounded. She said military support, especially air defence, should be increased and the resilience of Ukraine's energy infrastructure strengthened.
EU enlargement and the Middle East
Braže described EU enlargement as a strategic investment in European security. Latvia supports opening all accession negotiating clusters with Ukraine and Moldova this year, but candidate countries must fully align with the EU's common foreign policy and sanctions against Russia and Belarus.
Ministers also discussed the Middle East, including regional security challenges, the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, and cooperation with the Gulf states. Latvia voiced support for diplomatic solutions, regional stability 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 measures take effect, the list will include about 3,500 individuals and entities.
