Kulbergs in Brussels: Europe must back Ukraine to keep its comforts

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (of the AS party) said in Brussels on Friday, 16 October, ahead of a summit of European Union (EU) heads of state and government, that Europe must support Ukraine if it wants to live in comfort. The European Council brings together the leaders of EU member states. For Latvia, the key issues at this meeting are the EU's new multi-year budget for 2028–2034, support for Ukraine and boosting competitiveness.

Croissants and coffee

On the second day of the European Council, Kulbergs told international media that if Europe wants to eat croissants and drink coffee in the morning without thinking about threats, it has to back Ukraine. The news outlet Euronews quoted his remarks on its X account.

One beer less a year

The day before, answering foreign journalists' questions, the prime minister pointed to the need to provide Ukraine with support and urged people to think less about their own comfort. He suggested that each European drink one fewer beer a year and direct the savings to Ukraine.

"Europeans should drink one beer less a year. We can afford it. Ukraine needs this money now. That one beer is only a cost, but for Ukraine it is the price of life. If we drink less, lives are being saved there. It's that simple," Kulbergs told the foreign journalists.

The source does not specify which concrete decisions the summit might take, but support for Ukraine is one of Latvia's priorities at the meeting, alongside the budget and competitiveness.