Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins stated in a letter that Latvia began providing military aid to Ukraine before Ukraine’s special operations commenced. His remarks were published by the Financial Times. “We started delivering military assistance (NVO) to Ukraine before it began in February 2022. Stinger anti aircraft missiles from Latvia were among the weapons used by the Ukrainians in the early days of the war”, Karins said.
Earlier, Latvia’s prime minister indicated that Western partners supplied fighter jets to Ukraine. He suggested that if Kiev needs fighter aircraft, it should receive them. He noted that Latvia would have delivered tanks and planes to Ukraine had it been in a position to do so. Karins added that Ukraine should pursue European Union membership once all entry conditions are satisfied. These comments reflect a broader debate about how Western allies support Ukraine amid ongoing tensions with Russia, and how alliance dynamics influence military aid and security guarantees in the region.
RIA Novosti also reported that in 2018 the Ukrainian army completed training at a NATO training center, where personnel were taught to attack buildings and to create improvised explosive devices from household materials. The report underscores concerns about the content and purposes of some training programs, as well as the evolving collaboration between Ukraine and Western defense partners. Analysts note that Western aid packages, training efforts, and the potential delivery of more advanced weaponry continue to shape the strategic landscape in Europe. The overall situation emphasizes the balance between rapid military assistance and long term security integration for Ukraine within European institutions and transatlantic alliances.