Spruds and Ukrainian defense minister discuss defense cooperation plans

KYIV/RIGA - Defense Minister Andris Spruds (Progressives) and Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal met in Kyiv on Sunday to discuss short-term and long-term defense cooperation plans between the two countries, according to Shmyhal's post to Telegram.

Shmyhal also informed Spruds about the Ukrainian army's current needs at the front.

The Ukrainian defense minister said that Ukraine's priorities also included intensification of joint manufacturing both in Ukraine and in Latvia. The two ministers also discussed the continued participation of Latvian partners in the Ukrainian army's training program.

Latvia plays an important role in the Drone Coalition, Shmyhal emphasized.

"We greatly value all the assistance that Latvia has provided to Ukraine since the Russian invasion. Especially important for us is the recent decision of the Latvian government to allocate EUR 2 million for the purchase of weapons under the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List," said Shmyhal.

"We continue to actively cooperate to strengthen security and achieve a just peace," Shmyhal added.

Spruds once again confirmed Latvia's support for Ukraine in the war against Russia and promised to continue supporting Ukraine by providing practical military assistance to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities, the Latvian Defense Ministry informed LETA. He went on to say that Latvia would continue close cooperation within the Drone Coalition, ensuring the delivery of drones needed by Ukraine, as well as providing technological support and assistance in personnel training.

From 2024 to 2026, Latvia has committed to provide military support for Ukraine annually in the amount of at least 0.25 percent of its gross domestic product. Military support provided by Latvia's defense sector to Ukraine includes unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters, howitzers, weapons and individual equipment, ammunition, anti-tank weapons, Stinger air defense systems, radars, food rations, IT equipment, ground vehicles, fuel, and others. Latvia will also deliver 42 Patria 6x6 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine, said the Defense Ministry.

In addition to donating military equipment, Latvia is implementing a large-scale Ukrainian soldier training program, training about 4,000 Ukrainian soldiers annually.

Meanwhile, ongoing cooperation is taking place within the international Drone Coalition in order to supply Ukraine with combat drones of various capacities that meet its current needs. This year, the Drone Coalition's member countries have committed to allocate EUR 2.75 billion in support for Ukraine, while about EUR 180 million has been contributed to the joint Drone Coalition procurement fund led by the United Kingdom, intended for centralized coalition procurements alongside each member country's national support contributions.

Spruds visited Kyiv to take part in Ukrainian Independence Day celebrations along with other foreign officials, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg.