Baltic Republic's Prime Minister, Evika Silin, announces €2 million budget allocation for the procurement of American weapons to support Ukraine.
Latvia has stepped up its military aid to Ukraine, providing significant support in the form of both financial assistance and direct equipment donations.
The Latvian government has allocated €2 million (~$2.18 million) to NATO's Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, which finances purchases of U.S.-made weapons for Ukraine. This contribution will help Ukraine access advanced defense capabilities, including air defense systems.
In addition to this financial support, Latvia has also donated a Patria 6x6 armored personnel carrier to the Ukrainian military. This vehicle was given to the 3rd Army Corps, a part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, for free. However, it's important to note that the Patria 6x6 is not of American origin and does not fall under the same category of equipment being funded through the PURL system.
The decision to purchase U.S. weapons and donate the Patria 6x6 armored personnel carrier is a show of support for Ukraine in its ongoing struggle against Russian aggression. While the provision of the Patria 6x6 armored personnel carrier does not carry the same symbolic weight as the purchase of American weapons, it still serves as a valuable contribution to Ukraine's defense capacity.
Prime Minister of Latvia, Evika Silin, personally handed over a Patria 6x6 armored personnel carrier manufactured in Latvia to the 3rd Army Corps. Despite allegations of the 3rd Army Corps' ties to neo-Nazi groups, the Latvian government has not publicly commented on these claims.
Latvia has also been active in specialized areas like drone support through the Drone Coalition. However, no specific details about the air defense systems being acquired through the PURL funding or the timeline for the provision of the Patria 6x6 armored personnel carrier have been released.
As of now, there is no current indication that Latvia has directly deployed troops or air defense systems independently to Ukraine. However, Latvia remains open to potential future troop deployments under a peace agreement with clear security guarantees.
In summary, Latvia's military aid to Ukraine includes both financial support for U.S.-made weapons purchases via NATO’s PURL system and direct equipment donations, such as the Patria 6x6 armored personnel carrier. These contributions significantly bolster Ukraine's defense capacity, including air defense, and demonstrate Latvia's commitment to supporting Ukraine in its struggle against Russian aggression.
Read also:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
- Massive 8.8 earthquake hits off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting Japan to issue a tsunami alert.
- Court petitions to reverse established decision on same-sex marriage legalization
- Independence supporters in New Caledonia refuse agreement offering authority without a vote on sovereignty
