Ukraine and Latvia Deepen Defense Cooperation, Focus on Drones and Energy Security
During the visit of Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže to Kyiv, Ukraine and Latvia agreed to expand their defense cooperation.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha held bilateral talks with his Latvian counterpart Baiba Braže, during which the sides discussed current peace initiatives, pressure on Russia, defense priorities, and Ukraine’s energy security. Significant attention was paid to drone cooperation, with Latvia having delivered 12,000 drones to Ukraine this year and pledging an additional €15 million in 2026 to support production, innovative research, and the implementation of technologies on the battlefield.
An additional €5 million has been allocated for the rehabilitation of Ukrainian servicemen in Latvia and the continued training of personnel, with the capacity to increase the number of trained soldiers to 4,000 per year.
Beyond defense assistance, Latvia supports Ukraine in restoring energy infrastructure and stabilizing electricity supply ahead of winter. This year’s contribution of €125,000 will help repair energy facilities and ensure uninterrupted system operation.
The sides also discussed joint projects for 2026, including increasing drone production and deliveries within the framework of the Drone Coalition, as well as further support for the restoration of civilian infrastructure and specialist training.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister expressed deep gratitude to Latvia for its consistent and comprehensive support of Ukraine since the first days of the full-scale Russian invasion. The total volume of aid has already exceeded 1.6% of Latvia’s GDP.
“This includes weapons, ammunition, training of servicemen, and financial support. We are also grateful to Latvia for joining PURL and for the recent delivery of 42 PATRIA 6x6 armored personnel carriers,” added Sybiha.
Special gratitude was expressed for the restoration of critical and civilian infrastructure in the Chernihiv region, including projects totaling €5.7 million, and for providing opportunities for Ukrainian children from the region to spend time in Latvia.
The sides also discussed further cooperation in international organizations, including the UN, where Latvia’s election as a non-permanent member of the Security Council opens new opportunities to advance initiatives in support of Ukraine.
Earlier, Ukraine and Latvia have signed a Memorandum on defense-industrial cooperation that envisages joint work on innovation, research, and the exchange of experience in the use of weapons, with particular attention paid to the production and use of drones, the development of long-range capabilities, and the exchange of knowledge in the field of cybersecurity.
As The Gaze previously reported, Latvia expanded its support for Ukraine by contributing an additional €2.2 million to the NATO PURL (Prioritized Ukraine Requirement List) initiative, which finances the purchase of American weapons for the Ukrainian forces.
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