MP Valērijs Agešins: Sending troops to Ukraine is not a solution - diplomatic instruments should be used

In response to the escalation of the situation in Ukraine, the Latvian Ministry of Defense has prepared a draft decision of the Saeima on sending National Armed Forces soldiers to Ukraine for a training operation. Latvia is expected to participate in the Canadian-led operation Unifier.

The aim of the operation is to assist in the training of security forces by improving and increasing their capabilities. Latvia plans to participate in this operation in order to contribute to the enhancement of Ukraine's defense capabilities. The ministry did not disclose how many troops would be sent, in which region they would be based and how much the cost would be to the national budget.

On January 21, the Latvian Ministry of Defense also announced that Latvia would send Stinger air defense missile systems, individual equipment and dry rations to Ukraine in response to Russia's aggressive actions.

Latvia plans to increase its defense budget by 25% in the coming years to improve its own defense capabilities. This was discussed by both Defense Minister Artis Pabriks (Development/For!, Attīstībai/Par!) and Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs (New Unity, Jaunā Vienotība) during last week's foreign policy debate in the Saeima.

Valērijs Agešins, a member of the Harmony (Saskaņa) party who serves on the Saeima's National Security Committee, believes that neither increasing the defense budget nor sending Latvian soldiers to Ukraine are rational steps.

Do you support sending Latvian soldiers to Ukraine?

I believe that conflict situations between countries can be effectively resolved diplomatically and, as diplomats say, it should be based on consistent pragmatism. That is to say, we need to think more about our own interests.

I believe that only diplomatic solutions and a path of de-escalation are necessary, because there is no other way. Strengthening national security should only be done with diplomatic tools, and I believe that such possibilities have not been exhausted.

I am in favor of dialogue between all the parties involved. I would only agree to sending our troops if we had a UN mandate, blue helmets and acted as peacekeepers. Not otherwise.

People in Latvia lack a sense of peace, and society must not be scared with such statements. Moreover, I do not see the possibility of war. I think that nobody is ready for it and nobody is going to war. You can say that it is a training mission and there are only six instructors, but I do not think that we should risk our lives over there. Who will take responsibility for the worst-case scenario? I do not believe in the politicians who are promoting this idea. I do not think that the majority of the public will be enthusiastic either. I do not see any rational need for this step.

This is an election year, I assume that you will be the only political force to vote against. Are you afraid that the voters will dislike this?

I am expressing my personal opinion at the moment because there is still time before the final decision, as we know, first the government has to take this decision and only then the Saeima. It is possible that the government will accept this decision and send it to the Saeima, but, you know, the question of whether it is scary to be alone - it is not scary if you are alone, it is scary if you are zero.

I am not afraid to say that the majority of Harmony and of our electorate are strong pacifists. Do you think that the public is very happy with the ideas of Pabriks and Rinkēvičs? I don't think so.

Where do you think the funds with which it is planned to increase the defense budget could be used more rationally?

Increasing the salaries of medics, teachers, firefighters, and policemen, so that these people, especially teachers, feel like human beings and not like slaves, stuck in a cage of burnout. I would therefore use these funds to increase respect for teachers in our country, for firefighters, policemen and medics. Very simple.