Latvia supports the start of Ukraine's EU accession negotiations already in 2023. At the same time, joining NATO should happen after Kyiv's victory in the war.

As "Ukrinform" reports, during his visit to Kyiv, Krišjānis Kariņš, Latvian Prime Minister, said that he would like to see the opening of Ukraine's EU accession negotiations in 2023. He will convince other European leaders about this.

"In this struggle for security and peace throughout Europe, Ukraine must win. We sincerely believe that it will win. We also think about the future. Looking into it, we see the proper and worthy role of Ukraine as a member of our common EU family. In all my conversations and appeals to colleagues from the EU, I assert that negotiations on Ukraine's EU accession should begin already this year," he assured.

According to the Latvian Prime Minister, his country is ready to convince the whole world that Russia's terrible atrocities on Ukraine's territory should not go unpunished. Therefore a special tribunal should be created so that the guilty get a proper and fair punishment.

"We are also deeply convinced: as soon as Ukraine ends this war with its well-deserved victory, it can start joining NATO. Only Ukraine's EU and NATO memberships simultaneously will guarantee long-term peace and security in Europe," Kariņš emphasised.

In his turn, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal said at a press conference that Latvia has already provided military assistance to Ukraine worth 300 million euros. Together with the new package, this amount will increase to 370 million euros.

Krišjānis Kariņš, Latvian Prime Minister, arrived in Kyiv earlier on Thursday.

He previously claimed that after the end of hostilities, Ukraine should become a NATO member with all appropriate security guarantees to prevent a new war.