In 2024, Latvia will train Ukrainian recruits on its territory. Riga and Kyiv are deepening cooperation in the field of defense, including in the production of drones.
Defence ministers of Ukraine and Latvia met in Kyiv
On December 12, a meeting between Rustem Umierov and his colleague from Latvia, Andris Sprūds, took place in the capital of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Minister of Defense wrote about this on Facebook.
The parties held negotiations, after which the ministers spoke at a press briefing.
Umierov and Sprūds agreed on further cooperation and its expansion. In particular, Latvia decided to help with the training of Ukrainian recruits. Training will be held on the territory of Latvia.
In addition, Riga proposed to create a coalition of drones to strengthen our state's defence.
We are supporters of Ukraine's full membership in the EU and NATO, which will undoubtedly fight in the coming days for the start of negotiations on joining the European Union. At the same time, we share everything that was said in Vilnius, and we believe that Ukraine should become the 33rd member of NATO as soon as possible, Spruds said at the briefing.
For Sprūds, this was the first visit to the capital of Ukraine as the Minister of Defense of Latvia. He assumed this position on September 15, 2023.
What is known about the EU's ability to increase supplies of ammunition to Ukraine
According to Latvian President Edgars Rinkevičs, the EU may increase ammunition supplies to Ukraine if it refuses to sell them to third countries.
Rinkevičs emphasized that currently, the occupying Russian army has not achieved any strategic goals in Ukraine. Still, the Kremlin is presently mobilizing human and material resources to wage a protracted war, and this should not be taken lightly.
The President of Latvia emphasized that most of the EU understands the need to mobilize its defence industry, but it takes time.
I know there are some so-called third countries that still buy ammunition from European factories. And if we can postpone, for example, their purchases, because they do not have an active military situation, then, probably, this is what we should do, Rinkevičs noted.
