Latvia shares Russia concern and calls for UK military assistance
Latvia has made calls for UK military assistance to support them.
During a UK Foreign Affairs Committee session, the situation in Ukraine and the UK's response were discussed.
Latvian Defence Minister Artis Pabriks told the committee that Belarusian troops have crossed the border into Ukraine, which "basically means we have two aggressors at this moment officially" bordering Latvia.
Latvia's Defence Minister says he fears that with the Belarusian troops joining the invasion, the Russian troops could employ tactics similar to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and attempt to starve Ukrainians, to "crush" their resistance.
Mr Pabriks said: "I am very much concerned that Russian troops, following these orders from the top, will go into the mode similar to that President Assad (Syrian President) was using against his population.
"We see for several days there are increased bombing of civilian population, of civilian headquarters, of civilian houses, apartments, so this is what will happen."
He confirmed that Latvia is rising its defence spending to 2.5% GDP as of today.
However, even with this increase, he made note that they are a "small country" and that they "cannot guarantee" his citizens' equal security, as is granted maybe to many other NATO members not directly bordering such a large aggressor state.
He added: "We need also a military assistance as far as capabilities, and as far the firepower, for instance, we see from the Ukrainian perspective, we will need additional weaponry regarding their defence systems and coastal defence systems.
"Basically, we need military assistance in shorter and longer-term."
Watch: Is Russia's invasion of Ukraine stalling?
Mr Pabriks referred to the UK as a "major ally" and referenced the British troops in Estonia and how an increased level of support would be "highly" appreciated by Latvia.
He asked about the potential of "additional co-operation from UK maritime" and the "temporary placement of air defence systems or appearance of your (UK) air forces in our military airfields".
Mr Pabriks said they need "any type of military-industrial corporation to bolster our nuclear forces".
During the same committee session, Lithuanian Minister for Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis said: "It is possible this war will become a massacre. We are at the point where half measures will no longer work."
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