Post-election TV debate weighs whether Latvia and the EU should talk to Russia about ending the war

Former Latvian foreign minister Jānis Jurkāns and political scientist Andis Kudors took part in a television discussion on the news portal nra.lv on the morning after the elections in Latvia. They spoke with journalist Kristīne Kravcova and Filips Rajevskis, and the portal has published excerpts of the conversation as video. The discussion centred on how Latvia and the European Union (EU) should act on ending Russia's war, and on what the election results say about public attitudes.

Talks with Russia

Participants considered whether the EU should open negotiations with Russia to end the war, and whether Latvia should take the initiative. They also discussed what would happen if Russia refused to talk to the EU's foreign affairs commissioner Kaja Kallas, and whether Moscow would then agree to talk to Latvian politicians. Finland's experience in shaping its own foreign policy was cited as valuable. They also looked at Latvia's experience in 1939–1940, when a favourable attitude towards Russia was followed by occupation and the destruction of the best-educated and most enterprising part of the nation. One thesis in the discussion was that one can only start talking to bandits once their noses and fingers have been broken.

Russian speakers and the vote

About 400,000 Russian speakers live in Latvia, and the discussion treated them as people of Latvia. Participants debated whether they listen to the Russian ambassador or feel a bond with the Latvian state and vote for Latvian parties and the candidates those parties nominate. Voting results were examined in this light, particularly in Latgale.

Stance on the war in Ukraine

The discussion noted that the party "Latvija pirmajā vietā" has stated its position on the war in Ukraine clearly. Participants urged caution towards politicians who avoid saying who Crimea belongs to. They asked how such politicians would act if war reached Latvia, and whether they would also be unable to say who Daugavpils or Narva belongs to.