Russia Warns Latvia at UN Security Council: "Retaliation Possible Even for NATO Members"

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US: "Threats Against NATO Members Are Unacceptable"

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Russia has warned of possible retaliation against Latvia at a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting, claiming to have obtained intelligence that Ukrainian drones have been deployed within Latvian territory. While Latvia and Ukraine have strongly rejected the allegation as fake news, the United States has cautioned that NATO member states must not be threatened. This is interpreted as part of Russia’s strategy to sever connections with the Baltic States as Ukraine intensifies drone attacks within Russian territory.

On May 19 (local time), Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s ambassador to the UN, stated during the UNSC meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, "We have received intelligence that Ukraine is deploying drone units at bases within Latvian territory to attack Russia," adding, "Latvia’s status as a NATO member will not protect it from retaliation." He continued, "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has no intention for a peaceful resolution. Any negotiations can only be possible if Ukraine withdraws from so-called 'Russian territories' such as Donbas and issues a ceasefire order."

Latvia immediately objected to Russia’s unilateral claims. Sanita Pavluta-Deslandes, Latvia’s ambassador to the UN, refuted, "These claims by Russia are entirely baseless and complete fiction." Andriy Melnyk, Ukraine’s envoy to the UN, also dismissed Russia’s allegations as "fairy tales," pointing out, "Due to Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian civilians, the first half of May has seen one of the highest casualty rates since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022."

The United States warned Russia not to threaten NATO member states. Tammy Bruce, Deputy US Ambassador to the UN, who attended the meeting, said, "Threatening NATO member states is unacceptable," and emphasized, "The United States is fully meeting all its obligations to NATO."

The UNSC meeting was convened at Ukraine’s request to discuss measures following recent large-scale drone and retaliatory attacks by Russia and Ukraine on each other’s capitals, Kyiv and Moscow.

Kayoko Kato, Director and Officer-in-Charge for Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas at the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and Department of Peace Operations (DPO), stated during the briefing, "On May 13 and 14, Russia launched more than 1,500 drone attacks and dozens of missile strikes targeting major Ukrainian cities. In particular, a missile strike that hit an apartment building in Kyiv resulted in 24 deaths and at least 48 injuries."

Even after the Security Council meeting, Russia continued to strongly insist that Ukrainian drones had been deployed in Latvia. According to the Russian state-run TASS news agency, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) claimed in a statement that Ukrainian unmanned systems forces had been deployed to Latvian territory to attack Russia. The SVR warned, "Ukrainian forces are already stationed in five areas of Latvia, including Adazi," and added, "Even NATO membership status will not prevent justified retaliation against accomplices to terrorism."

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately denied Russia’s announcement. The ministry stated, "Russia is once again spreading lies," and emphasized, "Ukraine is not using Latvian territory or airspace for operations against Russia, nor does it have any intention of doing so."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.