Moscow is stonewalling peace talks and Ukraine may be facing years more war, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs warned yesterday, as the Munich Security Conference exposed the grim reality of stalled diplomacy.
“The conclusion of a peace agreement currently appears more like a miracle,” Rinkēvičs said, warning that Russia shows no sign of accepting any deal.
According to the Latvian leader, diplomatic moves are happening behind the scenes, but without serious pressure from the US and Europe, talks are going nowhere.
“We haven’t seen any particular signs of pressure,” he said bluntly, stressing that only a combination of sanctions, economic measures, and relentless support for Ukraine can force Moscow to budge.
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The warning comes amid growing frustration across Europe as Russia continues its brutal campaign in Ukraine, ignoring international calls for peace and showing stubborn defiance on every front.
Rinkēvičs’ stark assessment echoes that of Czech President Petr Pavel, who has also cautioned that a “quick peace” could invite even more Russian aggression.
“Russia rejects all possible ideas and is unwilling to commit to peace,” Rinkēvičs concluded, sending a chilling message to European capitals: prepare for the long haul, because Moscow will not be coerced without real, coordinated pressure.
The stark reality for Ukraine: negotiation is near-impossible, war continues, and only international unity can tip the balance.
Rinkēvičs said, “I fully agree with (Czech) President Pavel that the only way to do everything possible to achieve peace in 2026 is to increase pressure on Russia, both politically and economically, through sanctions, the fight against the shadow fleet, etc., and, of course, through support for Ukraine.”
“Russia rejects all possible ideas and is unwilling to commit to peace, so we will have to rely not only on diplomacy but also on pressure,” the Latvian president concluded.
