Key facts
- Ukraine and Latvia signed a drone cooperation deal.
- The agreement aims to strengthen joint defense and co-production.
- Latvia is the sixth country to join Ukraine's drone cooperation initiative.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeks to increase pressure on Russia for peace talks.
- The deal was signed on the sidelines of a summit in Tallinn, Estonia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a drone cooperation deal with Latvia, his sixth such agreement, as he seeks to increase pressure on Russia to engage in peace talks. The agreement was finalized on the sidelines of a summit between Ukraine and Nordic and Baltic states in Tallinn, Estonia.
Zelenskyy stated the deal would strengthen joint defense and co-production, and that Ukraine's expertise in drone warfare would help its partners. Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs echoed this, adding that drones are responsible for the majority of Russian troop deaths in the conflict. He also noted the agreement would provide Latvia with technological know-how and co-production opportunities.
Latvia becomes the sixth country to join Kyiv's drone cooperation initiative. Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine's interest in ensuring all of Europe has sufficient protection against Russian threats. The Baltic countries have recently reported drones entering their airspace, which Ukraine attributes to Russian electronic warfare affecting drone paths. The Kremlin, however, stated that Europe was likely far from ready to act as a mediator in the Ukraine peace process.