Latvia facing 'alarming' period amid rising Russian threat in Baltics, president says
In an interview with the Kyiv Independent, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said his government is preparing for cyberattacks, information campaigns, and possible disruptions by Russia.
Latvia's president, Edgars Rinkevics, described the upcoming weeks as an "alarming" period due to rising Russian threats in the Baltics, despite no signs of an imminent conventional attack. The government is preparing for cyberattacks, information campaigns, and potential disruptions around the parliamentary elections on October 3.
Latvia has requested additional battle plans from NATO allies, who have warned about Russian drone incursions, airspace violations, and other hybrid threats. Rinkevics emphasized that there are no signs of a conventional attack against Latvia or NATO countries, but warned that Russian pressure on countries supporting Ukraine continues through sabotage, cyberattacks, and subversive activity.
Information campaigns aimed at creating uncertainty about NATO's response could serve Russia's interests. If Russia launches an incursion, NATO troops stationed in Eastern European countries would respond swiftly. Rinkevics expressed doubts about the prospects for a diplomatic breakthrough between Russia and Ukraine, stating that Moscow shows no sign of changing course.
The president also confirmed that Latvia and other U.S. allies had been briefed on CIA Director John Ratcliffe's trip to Moscow, which was dismissed by Trump as "semi-routine." New U.S. sanctions legislation targeting Russia could encourage European countries to phase out purchasing Russian oil and gas, but this outcome remains uncertain.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
