Flickr
On 23 -24 August, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs paid a working visit to Ukraine, where he met with the President and Prime Minister of Ukraine and took part in the events marking the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Ukraine’s independence, as well as in meetings of the leaders of the Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8) and the Coalition of the Willing.
“Ukraine’s security is linked to the security of Europe as a whole, including Latvia. During the visit, it became clear that Latvia and Ukraine can cooperate more closely in several areas and make practical use of Ukraine’s wartime experience. Ukraine’s experience in managing cyber threats and civil protection risks, as well as in developing drone and counter-drone solutions, is of particular significance. We want to turn this cooperation into practical action, strengthen the exchange of information and experience, and develop joint solutions. Ukraine’s experience also contributes directly to Latvia’s security. We must therefore draw on this experience to strengthen our capabilities and preparedness for various threats well in advance,” emphasises Andris Kulbergs.
Cooperation on Ukraine’s reconstruction was also discussed during the talks with Ukrainian leaders. Latvia can share its experience and provide solutions to the construction of modular buildings, as well as in cogeneration and the energy sector, thereby strengthening Ukraine’s resilience and contributing to its reconstruction. During this visit, the Prime Minister continued the discussions launched at the Ukraine Reconstruction Conference in Gdansk regarding the representation of Latvia’s economic and business interests across various sectors, while also paying particular attention to Ukraine’s economic recovery, critical infrastructure, energy security and investment attraction.
The Latvian Prime Minister also discussed the implementation of the Latvia–Ukraine drone agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi, including co-production and technology transfer, with a view to strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the defence industry. Funding has also been secured for the transfer of obsolete TEC-2 equipment to Ukraine, including the costs of its transportation, and Latvia, Germany and Ukraine are continuing to work to resolve the necessary legal and administrative issues so that the equipment can be transferred to Ukraine.
At the meeting of the leaders of Ukraine and the Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8) in Kyiv, unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity was reaffirmed. The meeting emphasised that the NB8 countries will continue to provide Ukraine with political, military, financial, humanitarian and economic support for as long as necessary. The leaders agreed to strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities, expand cooperation in the defence industry and co-production, and support Ukraine’s path to the European Union and NATO. They also reaffirmed their commitment to continue working on Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction and to step up pressure on Russia through further sanctions.
On 24 August, the Latvian Prime Minister also took part in the Coalition of the Willing meeting, where, together with representatives of other countries, discussed further support for Ukraine and the most pressing security issues. During the meeting, the Prime Minister emphasised the particular importance of strengthening Ukraine’s air defence by providing the necessary military assistance and supporting its ability to protect the population and critical infrastructure, particularly during the coming winter. The need to coordinate partners’ actions and to maintain long-term military and financial support for Ukraine was also emphasised.
During his working visit to Ukraine, the Prime Minister also met with Lieutenant General Oleg Ivashchenko, Head of the Ukrainian Defence Intelligence Service, and Oleksandr Polkad, Acting Head of the Ukrainian Security Service. The meetings focused on the current security situation, Latvia’s support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s aggression, and opportunities to deepen cooperation between Latvia and Ukraine in security and defence.
At the end of the visit, the Prime Minister visited the Latvian Embassy in Ukraine, where he met with the Ambassador and the embassy team. He heard about the embassy team’s day-to-day work in challenging wartime conditions, as well as other current issues concerning cooperation between Latvia and Ukraine. The Prime Minister thanked the embassy team for their work and for maintaining Latvia’s presence in Ukraine even under these circumstances.
