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Ukraine and Latvia Deepen Defense Partnership with Landmark Drone Deal in Tallinn
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Ukraine and Latvia signed a new Drone Deal in Tallinn aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation in the defense sector, with a particular focus on unmanned systems, air defense, and joint production initiatives.
According to the Office of the President of Ukraine on June 9, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs formalized the agreement during their meeting in the Estonian capital.
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“The President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Latvia signed a Drone Deal. This is already the sixth agreement in this format that our country has concluded with partners. The Drone Deal opens up many opportunities for Ukraine and Latvia in joint production, above all in cooperation for defense, which is essential given all the security challenges,” the statement said.
The agreement envisages Latvia's support in strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities, particularly in the areas of drones, air defense, and missile defense systems. It also provides for the supply of defense products, financing for Ukrainian defense manufacturing, the expansion of bilateral defense cooperation, and the exchange of technologies, expertise, and knowledge.
Particular attention will be given to cooperation on the development of an integrated air defense system, according to the presidential office.
During the meeting, Zelenskyy briefed the Latvian prime minister on Ukraine's current air defense needs and expressed gratitude for Latvia's support of the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative. Kulbergs, in turn, informed the Ukrainian president that additional Latvian contributions were being prepared.
The two leaders also discussed increasing sanctions pressure on Russia, with a particular emphasis on tightening restrictions against Russia's so-called shadow fleet, which Moscow uses, among other routes, in the Baltic Sea to transport energy resources while circumventing international sanctions.
“We are always glad to see our Latvian friends. We know that we can count on your support. We are grateful that we have such excellent relations between our nations. And we thank Latvia for all the support it has provided to Ukraine throughout this horrific war,” the President said.
The talks marked Zelenskyy's first meeting with Latvia's new prime minister.
Ukraine is still lookig to conclude concluded a major framework agreement with the United States on drone technology cooperation, despite Washington’s interest in evaluating Ukrainian systems already proven in combat.
“We wanted to conclude the first Drone Deal with the United States. The US wanted to test all types of our drones. We agreed to the way they wanted to test, train with, and use our systems in the air, on land, and at sea. But we still don’t have a bilateral Drone Deal—a big framework document,” the president said.
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