A country with less than 2 million inhabitants is at the forefront of the European Union as regards the amount of aid granted to Ukraine per economy. The Latvian Government declares that it intends to support the country's attacked until its victory, and does not simply follow its words. There is no uncertainty that if Russia does not break its teeth in Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will become its next target. Therefore, since the outbreak of the war in February 2022, it has been these countries that have been most loudly calling for solidarity, firm and consistent support for Ukraine, at the same time acting actively in this field. Over 3 years, Latvia has provided Ukraine with aid worth almost EUR 860 million. This amount includes about EUR 540 million of military support, EUR 225 million for assistance to Ukrainian refugees residing in Latvia, as well as humanitarian aid and reconstruction measures. In early July, Latvian defence minister Andris Sprūds announced that, as in the erstwhile year, Latvia would besides allocate 0.25% of its GDP to support Ukraine in 2025 and 2026.
One of the most crucial areas of support for the fighting Ukraine is an global aid in the usage of drones on the battlefield. The credit of Latvia is invaluable here. It was this country that initiated the creation of the alleged Drone Coalition, an global initiative to supply Ukraine with unmanned aircraft and training personnel in the field of their operation. In the first year of the Coalition's action, the joint assistance of all 18 countries active reached EUR 1.8 billion. Latvia alone is liable for EUR 20 million. The country delivered 5,000 drones last year to Ukraine. This year, the number of unmanned workers to be transferred by Latvia to the Ukrainian army will scope 12,000. Their value is about €17 million, and the organization numbering 1,300 drones in the second half of July set off to target. It was besides late announced that 1 of the Latvian companies had won the Drone Coalition competition to deliver another batch of drones worth €24 million. It is not specified how many of them will be and what kind of unmanned vehicles will hit Ukraine or which company specifically defeated 162 competitors.
However, this is not the end of Latvian efforts for an ally. As of 2024, in the Latvian city of Valmiera, there has been a mill producing 6×6 armoured vehicles – the transporters designed in Finland are now equipped with the Finnish, Swedish and Latvian army. The government in Riga late decided that 42 Patria 6×6 vehicles would hit Ukraine. On July 15, Kiev was visited by Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, giving Ukrainian armed forces the first tranche consisting of 15 Patria. She besides stressed that Ukraine's fight with the aggressor is besides a Latvian fight.
