Latvia joins Czech initiative to purchase artillery shells for Ukraine

RIGA - On March 19, the Ministries of Defense of Latvia and the Czech Republic signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of military-technical assistance to Ukraine at the meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group in Ramstein, Germany, which provides for the acquisition of large-caliber ammunition for Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense informed LETA.

Defence Minister Andris Spruds (P) said that the initiative was essential to provide Ukraine's allies with the necessary combat capabilities.

The Ukraine Defense Contact Group brings together more than 50 countries around the world and was set up to collectively support Ukraine in providing support to its armed forces following Russia's full-scale hostilities.

Over the past two years the assistance provided by the Latvian government and the public to Ukraine amounted to over EUR 650 million. Latvia has contributed more than EUR 370 million in military equipment to support Ukraine's military during this period, providing UAVs, helicopters, howitzers, small arms and individual equipment, ammunition, anti-tank weapons, air defense systems, radars, information technology equipment, ground vehicles and fuel.

In addition, significant progress was made in the drone coalition in early 2024, with Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden joining the Latvian initiative in February, and Canada on March 7. The drone coalition's ambition is to provide one million drones for Ukraine. Negotiations with industry representatives are ongoing.

Latvia has also trained more than 4,000 members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2023 - 10 percent of the total number trained in the EU.

Latvia will continue to support Ukraine against Russian aggression until Ukraine's victory, the ministry said.