Stepaņenko avoids assessing Russia's threat to Latvia

Jūlija Stepaņenko, prime ministerial candidate for the party alliance "Sovereign Power/Union of New Latvians," avoided giving a clear answer in an interview on the podcast "Politiķi! Kas tas vispār bija?!" about whether Russia currently poses a threat to Latvia.

The politician stressed that Latvia needs a very active foreign policy so that no one threatens the country, but did not clarify her own assessment of Russia's current stance toward Latvia. She said geopolitical relations should be handled through diplomacy.

Criticism of the foreign minister

Stepaņenko criticized Foreign Minister Baiba Braže (New Unity), saying that in her view the minister's actions are worsening relations with other countries.

No comment on Medvedev

The politician also declined to comment on repeated statements by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev about the Baltic states, which have been widely covered by both Latvian and international media. Asked about Medvedev's threats, which have at times targeted Latvia among other countries, Stepaņenko said she had nothing to do with former politicians or their statements.

At the same time, Stepaņenko said her alliance supports a free and independent Latvia and condemns war and aggression. However, she declined to say whether, in her view, Ukraine provoked Russia's full-scale invasion.