It was the West's refusal to recognize the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states that gave the Latvians hope and facilitated their return to the international community. Now a new Kremlin representative wants Canada to accept its breaking international accords and accept its aggression against Ukraine. This time the situation is more threatening for Canada and its NATO allies. Any one who saw the destruction of Aleppo could see it came from the playbook for Grozny. Canada should do its part to ensure Latvia does not follow the Donbas model in which the Russians create zones of destruction to impose their will.