Statement by H.E. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Baiba Braže, on behalf of Latvia and Lithuania at the UN Security Council meeting on Threats to International Peace and Security (10002nd meeting)
New York, 22 September 2025
Mr President,
I deliver this statement on behalf of two Baltic States, Lithuania and my own country, Latvia.
I thank the Presidency of the Council for convening this meeting, and I thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for the briefing.
Latvia and Lithuania stand in full solidarity with our neighbour and ally Estonia. On 12 September, this Council strongly condemned the violation of Polish airspace by a massive Russian drone incursion. We expressed our full solidarity with Poland at that meeting and warned of the risk of further provocations by Russia. Now it is Estonia calling this meeting in response to another grave and deliberate escalation by Russia.
Mr President,
Europe has witnessed a rapidly growing number of Russia’s non-conventional attacks– ranging from GPS jamming, sabotage, attempts to place explosives on DHL planes, to drone incursions.
Mr President,
Russia’s war in Ukraine and Russia’s flagrant violation of Estonia’s airspace once again demonstrates Russia’s complete disregard for the authority of this Council and for the demands expressed by international community numerous UN General Assembly resolutions.
Mr President,
We are not facing a “Ukraine crisis”, we are faced with a Russia crisis.
As we speak at this emergency meeting, Russia continues to target and destroy Ukrainian cities, critical civilian infrastructure and kill innocent civilians – all in pursuit of a land grab.
Contrary to the efforts of the President of the United States and European and Ukrainian partners, Russia does not seek peace.
Russia’s imperial and colonial ambitions brutally violate the UN Charter. Remember Georgia in 2008, Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale aggression against Ukraine since 2022.
Mr President,
Today in 1939, Soviet and Nazi forces held a joint military parade to celebrate the invasion and partitioning of Poland.
We will never accept Russia’s attempts to attack, dominate, intimidate or establish a sphere of influence over its neighbours. Empires are dead.
We – the free and democratic countries, will continue to invest in our deterrence, defence, and resilience. We are working closely with our allies to deploy additional capabilities to ensure that future Russian provocations are not tolerated.
We ask the Council to continue to be engaged on upholding international peace and security. Yet, ironically, again, it is the aggressive, revanchist behaviour of Russia – a permanent member of this Council – which is gravely undermining global security.
Latvia and Lithuania call on this Council and all UN member states to condemn Russia’s aggressive actions in the strongest terms.
I thank you.