What Ukraine and Latvia's Drone Deal entails

Ukraine and Latvia have signed a bilateral agreement in the Drone Deal format. This was announced on the website of the President of Ukraine following his first meeting with Latvia’s new Prime Minister, Andris Kulbergs. The agreement covers the supply of defence products, financing of Ukrainian manufacturing, development of defence cooperation with Ukraine, and the exchange of technologies, expertise, and knowledge, including in building an integrated sky protection system. The agreement also opens opportunities for joint production. The press release states that Latvia will facilitate the strengthening of Ukraine’s defence capabilities, specifically providing support in the areas of drones and air and missile defence systems. During the meeting, Zelensky and Kulbergs also discussed Ukraine’s air defence needs and the tightening of sanctions against Russia, including its shadow fleet. This is the sixth Drone Deal Ukraine has concluded with partners. Last month, the country signed an agreement with Lithuania, and in total, Ukraine is cooperating in the Drone Deals format with 20 countries, Zelensky said. In addition, the governments of Ukraine and the United States have prepared a draft memorandum outlining the terms of a possible defence agreement between the two countries. It should be noted that the Drone Deal format was initially proposed specifically to the United States, but the signing of the agreement subsequently stalled.