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Russia’s War in Ukraine

Understanding the conflict four years on.

For many in Latvia, the Baltic nation of just over 1.8 million people, the dangers of Russia’s war in Ukraine are increasingly real.

In the sky, the country has had to cope with Ukrainian drones pushed off course by Russian electronic warfare. After two such drones struck Latvia in May, the country’s prime minister resigned. In June, Ukraine agreed to send anti-drone specialists to Latvia to help with drone defense, but in the meantime, Latvia must rely on rushing jets into the sky to shoot the errant drones down.

For many in Latvia, the Baltic nation of just over 1.8 million people, the dangers of Russia’s war in Ukraine are increasingly real.

In the sky, the country has had to cope with Ukrainian drones pushed off course by Russian electronic warfare. After two such drones struck Latvia in May, the country’s prime minister resigned. In June, Ukraine agreed to send anti-drone specialists to Latvia to help with drone defense, but in the meantime, Latvia must rely on rushing jets into the sky to shoot the errant drones down.

Russia, meanwhile, is showing a rising appetite for sabotage targeting Ukraine’s backers—a risk for Latvia, which along with other Baltic nations has been a strong supporter of Kyiv. Although Moscow has yet to take any action openly, Russia has been linked to a failed drone attack at Germany’s Leipzig airport and arson in Estonia, both in August. In September, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Russia intended to strike NATO member nations with drones or missiles in a provocative attack aimed at testing the alliance’s commitment to mutual defense.

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics knows the risks better than most—thanks to both his current role and his long tenure as foreign minister from 2011 to 2023. In an interview with Foreign Policy on Sept. 18, Rinkevics assessed Latvia’s level of support for Ukraine despite drone incursions, the risk of calling for allied support under NATO’s collective defense clause, and what role Europe should play in negotiating with Russia over Ukraine.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Foreign Policy: Latvia is working with Kyiv on bringing in Ukrainian drone specialists to deal with Russian drones and also Ukrainian drones that may accidentally fly through your territory. Do you feel as if that program is successful?

Edgars Rinkevics: It’s still very early. But if we look at the number of drones [in Poland and the Baltics], we have seen that the only efficient way to shoot them down was with planes, which use rather expensive missiles. Ukrainians are better because their systems are based also on anti-drone warfighting. We signed an agreement with Ukraine in June. We are working on technical issues and also establishing........

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