About: Latvia

Four EU countries call for use of Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine
Lithuania, Slovakia, Latvia and Estonia will call on 24 May for the confiscation of Russian assets frozen by the European Union to fund the rebuilding of Ukraine after Russia's invasion, a joint letter written by the four showed on Monday.
Russia says Israel supports neo-Nazis in row over Ukraine
Russia’s foreign ministry accused Israel on Tuesday (3 May) of supporting neo-Nazis in Ukraine, further escalating a row which began when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed Adolf Hitler had Jewish origins. Israel lambasted Lavrov on Monday, saying his claim...
Leaders of Poland and Baltic states in Kyiv to discuss military assistance
The presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia arrived in Kyiv to meet Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and discuss military assistance, while Russia warned that vehicles transporting weapons on Ukrainian territory would be considered as legitimate military targets.
Bulgaria, Baltic countries kick out 20 Russian diplomats
Bulgaria has expelled 10 Russian diplomats while Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania have banished another 10 Russian diplomats between them, the foreign ministries of the respective countries said on Friday (18 March), citing their non-diplomatic activities and the spreading of Russian military propaganda.
Latvia accuses Russia of COVID ‘pretext’ to cancel arms control inspections
Latvia's defence ministry on Tuesday (25 January) accused Moscow of using the "pretext" of Covid to cancel a scheduled arms inspection in two regions in western Russia this week.
US clears Baltic states to send US-made weapons to Ukraine
The US State Department has cleared Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to send US-made missiles and other weapons to Ukraine, three sources familiar with the decision said, as President Joe Biden predicted Russia would move on Ukraine.
Baltics in talks to increase NATO troops on their soil
The Baltic States are talking to NATO allies about increasing military deployments on their soil to deter Russia, Estonia's prime minister told Reuters on Wednesday (13 January), and NATO's chief said any Russian attack on Ukraine would spur a decision.
Biden talks to central Europe leaders, pledges more ‘military capabilities’
US President Joe Biden promised central European NATO members "additional military capabilities" on Thursday (9 December) and pledged to involve them in decisions about the region, Lithuania's presidential advisor said.
Latvia calls for permanent US troops to guard against Russia threat
Latvia needs a permanent US military presence to deter Russia and wants to boost its defences with US Patriot missiles, Defence Minister Artis Pabriks said on Monday (30 November) as NATO's chief visited allied troops in the Baltic country.
Taiwan, Europe must defend democracy together, president tells visiting Baltic MPs
Taiwan and Europe must work together to defend against authoritarianism and disinformation, President Tsai Ing-wen told visiting lawmakers from the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on Monday (29 November).
Latvia toughens rules for unvaccinated people
Employers in Latvia are allowed to dismiss employees who refuse to get vaccinated against Covid-19 from Monday (15 November), under new rules aimed at taming the pandemic in the EU member state.
Neighbours of Belarus say migrant crisis risks military clash
Countries bordering Belarus expressed concern on Thursday (11 November) that a crisis over growing numbers of migrants trying to break through its frontiers into the European Union could escalate into a military confrontation. Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia condemned “the deliberate...
Latvia allows businesses to fire the unvaccinated
The Latvian parliament on Thursday (4 November) allowed businesses to fire workers who refuse to either get a COVID-19 vaccine or transfer to remote work, as the country battles one of the worst COVID-19 waves in European Union.
Latvia declares emergency after surge in Covid cases
Latvia has declared a three-month state of emergency starting from Monday (8 November) following a surge in Covid-19 infections to record levels, as its vaccination rate remains one of the lowest in the EU.
Latvia announces four weeks of lockdown as COVID-19 cases spike
Latvia announced a COVID-19 lockdown from 21 October until 15 November to try to slow a spike in infections in one of the least vaccinated European Union countries.
EU weighs further sanctions on Belarus over illegal migrants
European Union foreign ministers debated new economic sanctions on Belarus on Monday (18 October), including on airlines, to halt what Brussels says is a deliberate policy by Minsk to fly in thousands of migrants and send them across the border.
Latvia’s president contracts COVID despite being vaccinated
Latvian President Egils Levits has contracted COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated, his chief of staff said Thursday (14 October), as the Baltic country reported a new record for daily coronavirus cases.
Latvia declares emergency after surge in Covid cases
Latvia has declared a three-month state of emergency starting from Monday (11 October) following a surge in Covid-19 infections to record levels, as its vaccination rate remains one of the lowest in the EU.
Poland, Latvia worry over Russia’s war games on tense EU-Belarus border
Poland and Latvia expressed concern on Thursday (2 September) over Russia's looming military drills held jointly on Belarus' western border where the European Union accuses Minsk of pushing migrants over to put pressure on the bloc.
Latvians take to the water for distanced concerts
Latvians are taking to the country's waterways for a socially distanced musical experience this summer, boarding kayaks, dinghies and motor yachts to enjoy some music -- even if unvaccinated.
Latvia starts pushing back migrants at tense Belarus border
Latvian border guards turned back dozens of migrants into Belarus overnight under a new state of emergency designed to stem a flow of arrivals the European Union says is orchestrated by Minsk.
Latvia, Lithuania take emergency action over Belarus border
Latvia on Tuesday (10 August) declared a local state of emergency along its border with Belarus, as Lithuanian lawmakers approved the construction of a fence to stem an influx of illegal migrants.
Baltics step closer to plugging into EU power grid, ending dependence on Russia
Three EU Baltic states on Thursday (13 May) took a big step toward accessing the bloc's power grid, a move intended to end energy dependence on Russia dating back to the Soviet era.