Latest news with #EdgarsRinkevics
Straits Times
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
NATO east flank backs Ukraine membership, Poland, Romania and Lithuania say
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, Estonian President Alar Karis, Polish President Andrzej Duda, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Romanian President Nicusor Dan, Czech Republic's President Petr Pavel, Slovakia's President Peter Pellegrini, Bulgarian Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Iceland's Foreign Minister Katrin Gunnarsdottir and Hungarian Defence Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky pose for a family picture during the NATO Bucharest Nine meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania June 2, 2025. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins VILNIUS - Nordic, Baltic and central European NATO members are committed to Ukrainian membership of the military alliance, the leaders of Poland, Romania and Lithuania said following a summit of the so-called B9 and Nordic countries on Monday. NATO allies declared their support for Ukraine's "irreversible path" towards membership at last year's Washington summit. But President Donald Trump has since said that prior U.S. support for Ukraine's NATO bid was a cause of the war and has further indicated that Ukraine will not get membership. Russian President Vladimir Putin's conditions for ending the war in Ukraine include a demand that Western leaders pledge in writing to stop enlarging NATO eastwards, and lift a chunk of sanctions on Russia, Reuters reported last week. Poland, Romania and Lithuania said on Monday, after a meeting of Nordic, Baltic and Eastern European leaders in the capital of Lithuania, that the region remains committed to the path towards Ukrainian NATO membership, and called for further pressure on Russia, including more sanctions. "We stand firm on Allied decision and commitment regarding Ukraine's irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership. Ukraine has the right to choose its own security arrangements and to decide its own future, free from outside interference," they said in a joint statement released on behalf of all meeting participants. The meeting, held ahead of a NATO summit at The Hague later this month, included Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Mainichi
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Japan's Emperor Naruhito meets Latvian, Bulgarian presidents
TOKYO -- Emperor Naruhito met with Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on May 19, during their visits to Japan to attend Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. According to the Imperial Household Agency, the Emperor asked the Latvian president about measures to preserve the historic and beautiful cityscape of Latvia's capital, Riga, and also discussed the culture of the country, which has produced many renowned musicians. With the Bulgarian president, the conversation touched on the 1970 Osaka Expo, where Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako, posthumously known as Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun, sampled yogurt at the Bulgaria Pavilion, a rare treat in Japan at the time. Emperor Naruhito himself shared a childhood memory of eating yogurt made from a starter culture. Both meetings were described as amicable. In line with national days being celebrated at the Expo, numerous foreign dignitaries are visiting Japan, and the Emperor is expected to continue meeting with international leaders. (Japanese original by Nao Yamada, Tokyo City News Department)
19-05-2025
- Business
Japan, Latvia Confirm Continued Support for Ukraine
News from Japan Politics May 19, 2025 22:32 (JST) Tokyo, May 19 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics confirmed Monday their countries' commitment to continued support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. "We'll continue to work together to achieve a fair and lasting peace in Ukraine," Ishiba told a joint press conference in Tokyo with Rinkevics. The Latvian president stressed the need for Japan and Latvia to cooperate on stopping Russia's invasion. They issued a joint statement that includes an agreement to upgrade relations between Japan and Latvia to a strategic partnership. In their meeting, the two leaders also agreed to work closely on issues in East Asia and to cooperate in energy and other economic fields. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
NHK
19-05-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Latvian president calls for more pressure on Russia
The president of Latvia, a Baltic state neighboring Russia, has said it is necessary to look at introducing more sanctions on Russia to push it to engage in serious negotiations over a ceasefire with Ukraine. President Edgars Rinkevics spoke to NHK in Tokyo on Monday. He visited Japan for the World Expo in Osaka. Rinkevics referred to Friday's direct talks between Russia and Ukraine that were held for the first time in about three years. He harshly criticized Russia, saying he sees no inclination on the Russian side for a ceasefire or to negotiate in a serious manner. Rinkevics said the only way to push Russia to negotiate seriously and agree on an unconditional ceasefire is "simply putting more political and economic pressure." He also touched on phone talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that are scheduled for Monday. Rinkevics expressed hope that Trump will be able to convince Putin to sit at the negotiation table and agree on an unconditional ceasefire. But he added that it remains to be seen how the phone call will develop.
The Mainichi
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Latvian president to visit Japan from Sun. to attend Osaka expo
TOKYO (Kyodo)-- Latvia's President Edgars Rinkevics will make a three-day visit to Japan starting Sunday to attend the World Exposition in Osaka, the Japanese government said Monday. During his stay through May 20, the president will hold talks with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and meet with Japan's Emperor Naruhito, according to the Foreign Ministry. The Japanese government "hopes the visit will further strengthen the friendly relations between Japan and the Republic of Latvia," the ministry said.
