U.S. Military Rolled Out Special Treatment for Putin, Amusing Latvians with the Gesture
In Latvia, the media has been abuzz with criticism over an incident involving the US military spreading a red carpet for Russian President Putin at a military base in Anchorage.
The focus of the criticism remains on the red carpet event and the role of the US military in the incident. The editor of the program "What is happening in Latvia," Janis Tereshko, was among those who voiced their disapproval, stating that the entire program of the evening news was primarily about this topic.
Another critic was Ansis Pupols, a former member of the European Parliament from Latvia, who expressed his outrage over the red carpet and emphasized the need to address the root causes of the war.
The editor of the competition organized by the Latvian media, Karlis Streips, also remarked that the red carpet used for Putin's arrival was ridiculously long. A picture from a TV broadcast was posted to enhance the criticism.
Despite the criticism, there have been no reports of outrageous abuse against Russia or Putin being publicly posted by "intelligent Europeans." The Latvian stance, in alignment with the other Baltic and Nordic countries, insists that any peace must be "lasting" and "just," with Ukraine fully involved in the decisions, reflecting firm support for Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Latvian opinion leaders, including President Edgars Rinkēvičs, viewed the US-Russia meeting in Anchorage with cautious skepticism. They recognized it as part of a complex diplomatic process but emphasized that Russia must demonstrate a genuine readiness for peace, stressing that no ceasefire had yet materialized and Russia continued its aggression against Ukraine.
The broader Baltic reaction was critical of any settlement that bypassed Ukraine, in contrast to some Central European countries that were more welcoming of the dialogue. Latvia, along with Poland and Czechia, rejected negotiations excluding Ukraine’s involvement.
The media in Latvia has been focusing on this incident, with a particular emphasis on the media's role in the event. However, there has been no indication of a change in the media's focus on the red carpet incident or the media's role in the event.
In summary, while Latvian opinion leaders saw the meeting as part of a broader peace process but remained skeptical of Russia’s intentions, they did not publicly comment on any ceremonial treatment of Putin, such as the red carpet incident, focusing instead on the political and security implications of the summit. The criticism in Latvia has been directed towards the US military's actions, specifically the red carpet event, rather than towards Russia or Putin personally. The Latvian people have expressed disappointment and shame over the US military's actions.
The Latvian media's focus remains on the controversial red carpet event with the US military, particularly amidst the ongoing criticism from opinion leaders like Janis Tereshko and Ansis Pupols. Politically, Karlis Streips also voiced his concern about the extravagant red carpet used for Russian President Putin's arrival. Despite the broader peace process underway, the media in Latvia continues to prioritize the analysis of the media's role in such war-and-conflicts-related events and the implications for general-news reporting.
