PM Kulbergs: Latvia secures three-year extension of EU sanctions against Russia
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs says the country has helped preserve and extend for three years EU sanctions against more than 2,600 supporters of Russia's war, while also agreeing on closer defense cooperation with France.
Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said Russia's aggression against Ukraine has not eased, arguing that sanctions against Moscow must be strengthened rather than loosened. The government said Latvia will keep pushing for additional EU sanctions on Russia and continue supporting Ukraine.
During negotiations with other EU leaders, Latvia opposed removing certain politically influential individuals from the bloc's individual sanctions list, remaining the only member state to hold that position until the very end of talks. After the prime minister personally joined negotiations with several national leaders, an agreement was reached preserving a strict sanctions regime for the next three years.
The government decided on three lines of action. First, individual sanctions against more than 2,600 people and entities linked to Russia's war will be extended by 36 months, avoiding a repeat of the twice-yearly review process that had exposed the regime to political pressure. Second, the Foreign Ministry will prepare a proposal and legal grounds for Latvia to impose national sanctions on Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman. Third, Latvia's representative will abstain when the EU Council formally adopts its decision, while publicly stating Latvia's political objection to removing the two men from the EU list.
Kulbergs informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian prime minister of Latvia's position; Ukraine thanked Latvia for its firm stance.
Cooperation with France
Separately, the prime minister has been in close contact with French President Emmanuel Macron over the past day about deepening bilateral security and defense cooperation. Macron agreed to open talks on Latvia joining France's nuclear deterrence initiative, with a French delegation expected to visit Latvia soon. Macron also pledged to strengthen France's military presence in Latvia, particularly in air defense. The Foreign and Defense Ministries have been tasked with drafting a cooperation model and negotiation schedule.
