Latvia and Ukraine share common values and a common future in Euro-Atlantic structures - Silina

RIGA - Latvia and Ukraine share common values and a common future in Euro-Atlantic structures, Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) said on Thursday after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

As the State Chancellery informed LETA, the officials discussed joint action towards Ukraine's victory and a just peace.

The Prime Minister thanked Zelensky for his warm welcome to Ukraine, as well as the Ukrainian people for their courage and for the many good words about Latvia during the visit.

At the same time, the Prime Minister assured that Latvia would continue to support Ukraine as it fights for its freedom, people, European values and security.

The officials discussed Ukraine's plans to hold a second Ukrainian peace summit, as well as Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration. The Prime Minister underlined that Latvia supported Ukraine's path towards becoming a member of the European Union and NATO.

The Prime Minister also said that Latvia would continue to advocate for Ukraine at the United Nations and in other international formats, so that Ukraine would receive as much and as quickly as possible financial, humanitarian, political and other support.

In her talks with Zelensky, the Prime Minister also welcomed Ukraine's operation in the Kursk region, which has given Ukraine the initiative to defend itself against the aggressor state Russia.

"We have different pasts, but our common future lies in Euro-Atlantic structures - in the family of free and democratic countries. Ukraine has made heavy sacrifices and fought valiantly to defend the most sacred things they possess - their country, land and a free people. Latvia will always be a friend of Ukraine and we will act together to achieve Ukraine's victory and a just peace," said Silina.

As reported earlier, Latvia's military aid to Ukraine this year and in the coming years amounts to 0.25 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) per year.

Silina and Zelensky discussed the third package of military aid to Ukraine in 2024, the Latvian-UK-led drone coalition, preparations for 2025 military aid and reconstruction projects in Ukraine.

LETA also reported that the third package for 2024 will include company-sized reconnaissance combat tracked armored vehicles (CVRT), drones, individual equipment for soldiers and equipment for combat engineers. Latvia will also continue to train and equip a total of around 4,000 Ukrainian soldiers this year and a similar number will be trained in 2025.

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister also met with Ruslan Stefanchuk, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, to discuss Latvia's future support to Ukraine and its Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as the upcoming Crimean Platform Parliamentary Summit to be held in Riga in October this year.

The Prime Minister expressed her gratitude to Stefanchuk for his contribution to the friendship between Latvia and Ukraine.