Latvia planning to send soldiers to Ukraine

RIGA - The Ministry of Defense (MoD) has prepared a draft decision on the deployment of soldiers of the National Armed Forces (NAF) in a training operation in Ukraine.

LETA has clarified that the MoD has submitted to the Ministries of Finance, Justice and Foreign Affairs for approval a draft decision of the Saeima on the participation of the Latvian NAF in the Canadian-led operation Unifier in Ukraine. It is planned that the troops will be sent for the time specified by the Canadian side.

The decision will be considered by the government first before it is submitted to parliament for review and approval.

MoD Spokesman Kaspars Galkins confirmed to LETA that an operation by the Canadian Armed Forces had previously been set up to support the Ukrainian security forces at the request of the Ukrainian government.

The purpose of the operation is to assist in the training of security forces by improving and enhancing their capabilities. Latvia also plans to participate in this operation in order to contribute to Ukraine's defense capabilities.

This is another way in which Latvia can provide its support to Ukraine, but the ministry did not reveal how many troops are planned to be sent, in which region they would be based and how much it would cost from the state budget.

On January 21, the Ministry of Defense of Latvia also announced that in response to Russia's aggressive actions, Latvia would send Stinger air defense missile systems, individual equipment and dry food supplies to Ukraine.