At its meeting in Kiel, Germany, on Monday, 24 November the Standing Committee of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) reaffirmed its unwavering solidarity with Ukraine, reports Jānis Vucāns, Head of the Latvian Delegation to the Baltic Assembly. The parliamentarians adopted a statement emphasising that Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity are inviolable, and that the rules-based international order must be upheld.
The parliamentarians took note of the international discussions following the recently presented U.S. peace plan, as well as other proposals. Ukraine has indicated its willingness to seriously consider international proposals even under the most difficult circumstances created by the war. Russia, meanwhile, continues its unlawful attacks on civilians and infrastructure and has shown no credible intention of ending its aggression, Vucāns noted.
In their statement, the parliamentarians stress that any path to peace must be based on international law and must fully respect Ukraine’s independence. No proposal or negotiation format may be pursued without Ukraine’s consent or at the expense of its security and freedom.
A just and sustainable peace cannot be built on coercion, the forceful seizure of territory, or restrictions on Ukraine’s right to self-defence. Any international initiative must strengthen the security and stability of Ukraine and Europe rather than entrench the consequences of aggression, the parliamentarians emphasise.
Ukraine’s defence remains directly linked to the security and democratic resilience of the Baltic Sea region. The parliaments represented in the BSPC commit to providing Ukraine with political, economic, military, and humanitarian support, the statement says.
The Standing Committee also expressed deep respect for the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people. Their courage continues to strengthen democratic values throughout the Baltic Sea region.
Source: Latvian Saeima Press Service
