Latvia to Provide at Least €2 Million for NATO’s Supply of U.S. Weapons to Ukraine

Latvia will join a NATO-led initiative to supply the U.S.-made weapons to Ukraine, committing no less than €2 million to the effort, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa announced on August 12 after a cabinet meeting.

The Gaze reports this, referring to Delfi.

The decision follows last week’s conversation between Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in which Latvia signaled its readiness to participate but did not disclose details at the time.

“The financial amount Latvia will allocate for this initiative will be clarified, but it will not be less than €2 million,” Siliņa told reporters, adding that the funding will help procure both air defense systems and other critical equipment for Ukraine’s defense.

The NATO initiative, known as the Priority Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), was launched jointly by the Alliance and the United States to pool contributions from member states into a NATO-managed account for purchasing weapons from U.S. suppliers. 

Ukraine submits its priority needs directly to NATO, and U.S. European Command chief and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Alexis Grinkevich, assesses whether sufficient stockpiles are available for sale.

Several NATO members have already pledged significant contributions to PURL. The Netherlands has committed $500 million for components and missiles for the Patriot air defense system, while Sweden, Norway, and Denmark will jointly provide another $500 million for equipment and ammunition.

Unofficial reports indicate that the first deliveries of weapons and ammunition under the program could begin within weeks.

As The Gaze reported earlier, on July 16, Latvian PM Evika Siliņa visited Ukraine, personally delivering the first batch of Patria armored personnel carriers (APCs) to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.