Voice of Ukraine

Bolstering Ukraine’s defense, Latvia pledged around $120 million in military aid for 2024 under a new bilateral accord.

From: Euromaiden Press BY MARIA TRIL

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement on 11 April during Zelenskyy’s visit to Lithuania for an international summit.

The deal follows similar bilateral agreements Ukraine has signed with eight other countries earlier, in particular, with Finland, the UK, Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Italy, and the Netherlands. The agreements are based on a pledge made by the Group of Seven (G7) in July 2023, which aims to bolster Ukraine’s ability to resist Russian aggression.

According to Zelenskyy, Latvia will provide Ukraine with around 112 million euros ($120 million) in military aid in 2024, as well as assistance with reconstruction, protecting critical infrastructure, demining, unmanned technology, and cyber security.

Latvia also pledges to provide 0.25% of its gross domestic product (GDP) annually to assist Ukraine. Latvia also promised support in cyber defense, demining, unmanned systems, as well as backing for Kyiv’s EU and NATO membership bids.

“I am grateful to our friend and partner, Latvia. This is precisely the specificity and predictability that our struggle for freedom and independence requires,” Zelenskyy saidon X.