A settlement without firm security guarantees poses a direct risk of renewed aggression by the Russian Federation. What is needed is not appeasement, but increased preparedness. A return to “normal” defense spending of 3.5–5% of GDP, strengthening NATO, and abandoning illusions will create a deterrent that will leave the Kremlin with no “window of opportunity” for the next step.
This was stated in a comment to Guildhall by Ainars Latkovskis, a member of the Latvian Seimas from the New Era party.
«Yeah, yeah, definitely. Russia has opportunistic policies, and if we do not arm ourselves and stay ready, they will take that chance. The thing is – and the Cold War showed it very well – a big part of the budgets of Western countries, NATO countries, was spent on defense, on arms. And at the same time these countries were growing economically, socially, benefiting, everything else. So, in my view, spending 5% or, say, 3.5% – as it averaged during the Cold War – is just a return to normal. If we are defending ourselves and getting ready, Russia will never be able to make this move», the deputy answered the question of whether it would be dangerous for Europe to settle the war in Ukraine without providing security guarantees.
Latkovskis added, «Western Europe is acting, and we have a common NATO. But appeasement just makes Russia think there is an opportunity to use this. And, as in your war now, they also thought 100% that they had this opportunity—that you were weak. It turned out they miscalculated».
Earlier, in a comment to Guildhall, French Member of the European Parliament Thomas Pellerin-Carlin stated that peace without real security guarantees for Ukraine risks repeating the failure of the Budapest Memorandum – a paper without power does not protect. According to the MEP, peace can only be discussed in conjunction with guarantees backed by power and a willingness to use it to ensure a just and lasting peace.
Только главные новости в нашем Telegram, Facebook и GoogleNews!
Tweet