Russian military has not become weaker - Rinkevics
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics warned that Russia's military capabilities remain robust and should not be underestimated despite economic pressures. He urged continued international support for Ukraine, emphasizing the need for advanced military technology and financial aid.
Why it matters
The assessment challenges the narrative that sanctions alone will degrade Russia's war-fighting capacity, influencing Western defense policy.
RIGA - The Russian military has not grown weaker and is completely different from what it was four and a half years ago, President Edgars Rinkevics emphasized Thursday at the opening of the Riga Conference.
He stressed that Russia's military forces must not be underestimated simply because the war imposes economic costs on the country, and Russian society is increasingly coming to realize what that means.
"Let's not be misled into thinking that this means a weakening of Russia's military capabilities. Quite the opposite. We must understand that Russia's military forces are, in fact, well-developed," said Rinkevics.
Compared to last year, the President sees several positive changes; for example, Ukraine has been able to withstand the pressure, launch counterattacks, and make the Russian public bear some of the costs of the war.
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