Rinkēvičs: As Long as Russia Believes in Victory, Diplomacy Won't Bring Peace
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs stated that although the frontline situation has shifted, Russia still hopes for victory, making peace talks unlikely in the coming months.
President Edgars Rinkēvičs said in an interview that the situation on the front in the Russia-Ukraine war has changed radically over the past year. A year ago, the front was almost stalled, but now Ukraine is gradually regaining the initiative, and Russia is losing significantly more soldiers than before. However, the president noted that Ukraine's successes are not yet strategically significant, though progress is being made.
Rinkēvičs acknowledged that after the US president's statement, there might be a possibility for some diplomatic process, but Russia's position remains unchanged. "Russia still believes that it can win this war at some point," the president said. Therefore, he sees "no major impetus" for significant progress toward peace through diplomatic means in the coming months.
Commenting on European politicians who occasionally express readiness to initiate peace talks, Rinkēvičs said he views this pragmatically and calmly. In his opinion, the desire to define an EU strategy in case Ukraine invites them to the negotiating table is justified, but many conditions must be met first. "For now, Russia lacks this willingness, and there are a hundred and one conditions before we can even make such decisions," the Latvian head of state emphasized.
