Vējonis: Ukrainian army must not be used against their own people

The armed forces must not be used against people in their own country, Latvian Defense Minister Raimonds Vējonis said in a discussion about the events in Ukraine held during the informal meeting of the EU defense ministers in Athens, Greece.

"We have to urge the Ukrainian leaders to remember the key principle of every democratic country – the task of the armed forces is to defend the country against external enemies and the army must not be turned on the country’s own citizens,” Vējonis said, adding that Latvia was worried about the latest news from Kiev about the increased number of deaths.

The EU defense ministers agreed that the situation in Ukraine was developing uncontrollably and its further escalation might have unforeseeable consequences. They called on the Ukrainian armed forces and their commanders to remain neutral in this conflict and not to get involved in clashes with the protesters.

During the two days of violent clashes in Kiev 75 people were killed and 571 people with various injuries sought medical assistance, including 363 people, who were placed in hospitals.

Andis Jēkabsons
Public Relations Adviser
Phone: 67335055
E-mail: andis.jekabsons@mod.gov.lv