WFFL Letter to the President of the United States

February 24, 2022

The Honorable Joseph R. Biden
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Biden:

The World Federation of Free Latvians (WFFL), representing Latvian diaspora organizations in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Russia, Europe and South America, categorically condemns Russia’s aggression in and around Ukraine, as well as Russian president Vladimir Putin’s decision to recognize the independence of the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk and start a full-scale war in Europe.  The WFFL considers the actions by the Russian Federation as a flagrant breach of international law and an affront to the sovereign country of Ukraine.

The WFFL calls for the world community, international organizations, and governments to unite against such aggression and do everything in their power to stop the war in Ukraine. The WFFL calls on Western democracies to immediately impose the full package of sanctions against Russia and its interests, as agreed upon in your multilateral talks and at the recent Munich Security Conference.

The WFFL asks the NATO alliance to strengthen its Eastern flank by sending additional troops, as well as the necessary military equipment to the Baltic States, simultaneously increasing the supply of weapons and economic support to Ukraine.  The West must boldly stand against the Russian plans to annihilate an independent country, change the security architecture of Europe, and indeed the whole world. We must stand united, act swiftly and effectively to stop Mr. Putin’s intentions now. We should not appease Russia and we need to speak from the position of strength, because it is the only language the Russian leaders understand.

We are grateful to you for your leadership of the Western response and the attention you have given these unwelcome developments.  We are appreciative of the steps you have taken in recent days to counteract this aggression and safeguard your NATO allies in Eastern Europe.

On behalf of the American Latvian Association, the Latvian National Association in Canada, European Latvian Association, Latvian Association of Australia and New Zealand, the Latvian Congress of Russia, and the Latvian Association of South America and the Caribbean, I urge you to act swiftly and decisively.

Sincerely,

Peteris Blumbergs
President