Putin stepping up hybrid war on Latvia because he’s ‘losing in Ukraine’, PM Kulbergs says

Latvia Faces Intensified Pressure as Putin Shifts Focus Amid Ukraine Setbacks

Prime Minister Kulbergs Identifies Strategic Distraction Tactics

Usagevpn.com – Latvia’s Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has revealed to Euronews that the Baltic nation is currently experiencing a significant escalation in hybrid warfare. This heightened tension involves both Russia and Belarus, who appear to be coordinating their efforts to challenge the stability of the region. According to Kulbergs, the timing of this aggression is not coincidental but rather a strategic maneuver by Russian President Vladimir Putin. With Moscow facing considerable setbacks on the battlefield in Ukraine, the Kremlin seems determined to divert international attention away from its military struggles by creating new crises elsewhere.

The small Baltic state has recently emerged as the primary target within what European Union officials characterize as a broader hybrid campaign. This campaign is spearheaded by Moscow and Minsk, aiming to exert maximum pressure on neighboring countries. A key component of this strategy involves Belarusian President Aliaksandr Lukashenka, who has been actively utilizing state-sponsored migrant flows to strain the eastern borders of the European Union. Kulbergs emphasized the immediacy of the situation during an appearance on Euronews’ morning program, Europe Today.

“We’re being tested,” Prime Minister Kulbergs told Euronews’ morning show, Europe Today. “At this moment, it is us. At any given moment it is our neighbours in Lithuania, Estonia, Finland or Poland.”

The Prime Minister further clarified the nature of the challenge facing his country. He described the situation as a dual threat that combines elements of both conventional warfare and modern hybrid tactics. In his view, this approach is characteristic of Russian foreign policy, designed to keep adversaries off balance. Since 2021, Lukashenka has been systematically attracting migrants from various regions, including the Middle East and Africa. These individuals are then transported by bus to the border areas shared with Poland and the Baltic states, creating a continuous stream of pressure.

“This is a hybrid threat. This is a war threat. That's what Russia does,” he added.

In response to these growing pressures, numerous nations have taken steps to strengthen their border defenses.