On 24 January 2025, an inter-institutional meeting chaired by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, reviewed progress with the implementation of the Agreement between the Republic of Latvia and Ukraine on Long-term Support and Security Commitments. The discussions addressed both comprehensive support to Ukraine in its fight against the aggressor state Russia, and assistance to Ukrainian civilians in Latvia.
The participants of the meeting discussed the measures undertaken in 2024 and plans for 2025 to implement commitments under the Agreement. This was the second inter-institutional meeting and it was attended by officials from all ministries.
The Agreement, signed in 2024, entails security cooperation with Ukraine in military and non-military fields, including political, military reconstruction-related, economic, financial and humanitarian aid efforts.
As part of practical support, Latvia committed to providing Ukraine with military assistance in the amount of 0.25% of GDP and EUR 15 million in support of reconstruction by the end of 2026.
Support offered by Latvia covers both military assistance and non-military initiatives, including investments in the reconstruction of the Chernihiv region, strengthening of energy and cyber security, rehabilitation of Ukrainian soldiers, and support for peace efforts. In 2024, EUR 5 million was allocated to the reconstruction of Chernihiv as Latvia’s priority region, with EUR 2.9 million of the amount being granted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Central Finance and Contracts Agency. The projects implemented were mainly aimed at the restoration of infrastructure facilities and provision of psychological support to women (for instance, projects by the MARTA Centre).
Last year, Latvia provided military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of EUR 133 million, or 0.32 % of GDP, by supplying large calibre ammunition, anti-tank weapons, air defence systems and other equipment, as well as investing EUR 20 million in the Drone Coalition led by Latvia and the UK. In 2025, military support to Ukraine will be further provided in the same amount as in 2024.
Latvia continued to advance the issue of holding the aggressor accountable: on 22 November 2024, Riga hosted the 12th meeting of the Core Group on the Establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. In addition, Latvia advocated for the need to sustain and increase the political, diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia.
The three packages of sanctions that the EU adopted against Russia last year also included Latvia’s proposals to constrain Russia. For instance, the 14th sanctions package included measures proposed by Latvia to ban the export and transit of manganese ore to Russia and restrictions on the transhipment of Russian-origin liquefied natural gas in EU ports. Out of 52 “shadow fleet” vessels added on the sanctions list under the 15th round of EU sanctions, 11 were proposed by Latvia.
Further information
- The Foreign Minister to her Latvian colleagues: together, we are providing vital support for Ukraine’s security | Ārlietu ministrija
- On 11 April 2024, the President of Latvia and the President of Ukraine signed an Agreement on Long-term Support and Security Commitments
- Agreement between the Republic of Latvia and Ukraine on long-term support and security commitments