Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics believes the situation surrounding Crimea, whether someone likes it or not, has become a frozen Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Rinkevics called Crimea’s unification with Russia “illegal annexation” in an interview with BNS, adding that the conflict does not have a quick solution.
“The international community does not recognize it. The European Union has banned companies and individuals from starting any economic cooperation, making investments, or maintaining ties with the Crimean peninsula. We consider it the Ukrainian territory, and Russia considers it its own. Do we see a quick solution here? No. We don’t see a quick solution here. We cannot and must not remove this issue from the international agenda,” Rinkevics said.
Talking about the situation in Donbas, he said “the implementation of the Minsk agreements is still important.”
The EU’s decision to extend sanctions against Russia reflects the fact that the agreements are not being fully complied with. “We see tensions growing, but I think we need to encourage all parties concerned to fulfill these agreements as far as possible,” he said.
“Are we happy about how the Minsk agreements are being implemented? No. Is there any alternative? I don’t see such now. Will we conclude another agreement? Will we start a new war? Of course not,” Rinkevics said.
Therefore, Rinkevics called for making as active efforts as possible, both on the bilateral level and involving the European Union and a broader international community “to ensure the implementation of these agreements by all means available.”
“There is no alternative” to the Minsk agreements, he said.
