Ukraine and Latvia expand cooperation on drones and counter-drone solutions
Ukraine and Latvia are advancing efforts to expand defence cooperation. The matter was discussed during a meeting between the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov, and the Minister of Defence of Latvia, Raivis Melnis.
Mykhailo Fedorov congratulated Raivis Melnis on his appointment as Minister of Defence of Latvia and expressed gratitude for Latvia’s steadfast support for Ukraine.
The discussion highlighted Latvia’s commitment to dedicating 0.25% of its GDP to support Ukraine, as well as its leadership role within the Drone Coalition.
Ukraine highly values Latvia’s contribution to advancing win-win cooperation that strengthens both countries.
New support and enhanced air defence
Latvia is preparing additional support for Ukraine. At the same time, Ukraine’s experience and technological expertise could contribute to strengthening Latvia’s defence capabilities, particularly its air defence.
The parties discussed how Ukraine’s practical experience in countering russian aerial threats could help partners adapt their own solutions more quickly to the demands of modern warfare.
Drone Deal and joint industrial projects
The teams from both ministries reviewed cooperation under the Drone Deal initiative and the potential for launching large-scale joint projects.
The parties also discussed the use of EU loan funds to strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities. It is important that partner resources can be directed flexibly towards solutions that have a tangible impact on the battlefield and meet critical defence needs.
Counter-drone capabilities and unmanned systems
The parties discussed the supply of Latvian-made counter-drone systems for Ukrainian units.
They also reviewed the supply of unmanned systems for the Defence Forces of Ukraine. These include strike UAVs, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), and maritime drones.
PURL and Test in Ukraine
Ukraine and Latvia also discussed the next steps in supporting the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism, which helps deliver critical military assistance to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian side also briefed its Latvian counterparts on opportunities to test European weapons and innovations in Ukraine through the Test in Ukraine initiative. This is important for manufacturers and partners seeking to understand which solutions are truly effective under modern warfare conditions.