![Andris Sprūds, Defence Minister of Latvia, during an interview with The Kyiv Independent in Kyiv, Ukraine](https://assets.kyivindependent.com/content/images/2024/08/DSC_3488.jpg)
'The goal should be strategic defeat of Russia' – Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds
Editor’s note: The transcript of this interview has been edited for clarity. Latvia has been one of Ukraine's staunchest supporters since the start of the all-out war. Sharing a border with both Russia and its ally Belarus, the small Baltic country understands Ukraine’s struggle all too well. As