NATO Secretary General met with President Egils Levits in Riga on Tuesday (8 March 2022) at the start of a visit to Latvia. They discussed Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, its humanitarian impact and the implications for Euro-Atlantic security.
“This is Europe’s fastest growing refugee crisis since World War Two,” said the Secretary General. He noted the credible reports of civilians coming under fire while evacuating and underlined that targeting civilians is a war crime. “We need real humanitarian corridors that are fully respected,” he said. The Secretary General also praised Allies for supporting Ukraine, imposing costs on Russia, and strengthening NATO’s presence in the east, sending a clear message that NATO will defend and protect every inch of Allied territory.