During a closed session on Tuesday, the government decided to allocate 10 million euros for the purchase of artillery ammunition for Ukraine, and additionally, another batch of drones will be supplied to Ukraine in the summer. This was announced to journalists after the meeting by Prime Minister Evika Siliņa and Defense Minister Andris Sprūds, as reported by Delfi portal.
The specified amount of money is allocated for the so-called Czech initiative for the supply of artillery ammunition to Ukraine. Czechia coordinates a number of countries that provide funding for the purchase of ammunition for Ukraine's needs.
Spruds reported that the funds allocated by Latvia are intended to purchase over 3,000 large-caliber 155-millimeter shells.
Speaking about the activity of the drone coalition led by Latvia and the United Kingdom, Spruds reminded that Latvia recently sent approximately 100 drones to Ukraine. In June, the dispatch of the second batch, consisting of approximately 1000 combat drones of various capacities, is planned. Currently, coalition countries have announced funding of over half a billion euros for the purchase of drones.
For this and the next two years, Latvia will provide military support to Ukraine in the amount of 0.25% of the gross domestic product. This year, it is 112 million euros, the minister reminded.
It was previously reported that the defense ministries of Latvia and Czechia signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of military-technical assistance to Ukraine during a meeting of the contact group on defense of Ukraine in Ramstein, Germany, on March 19. The purchase of large-caliber ammunition for the needs of Ukraine is provided for.
On February 14, several countries, along with Latvia, signed a letter of intent to participate in the drone coalition. Latvia will allocate at least 10 million euros annually for the development of the drone coalition. The intention of the countries in the drone coalition is to provide one million drones for the needs of Ukraine.
