By Burc Eruygur
ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday discussed defense and cooperation between his country and the Baltic states during separate meetings with visiting leaders from the region in the capital Kyiv.
“Latvia’s support for Ukraine remains unwavering. We are grateful for all the assistance since the beginning of the full-scale (Russian) invasion,” Zelenskyy said on X following talks with Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina.
Zelenskyy said his meeting with Silina focused on strengthening military and technical cooperation between the two countries, implementing the bilateral security agreement signed by Kyiv and Riga in April, and preparing for the second Ukraine peace summit.
A corresponding statement issued by the Ukrainian presidency said that Zelenskyy informed Silina about the preparations for the second peace summit, the first of which was held in Switzerland in June, and underlined the need to involve as many Global South countries as possible in this process.
Zelenskyy later held talks with his Estonian counterpart Alar Karis, during which he commended Tallinn’s decision to allocate 0.25% of its GDP annually for Ukraine’s defense needs, according to a presidential statement.
The statement said the Ukrainian president thanked Estonia for its contribution to his country’s reconstruction, particularly in the northwestern Zhytomyr region, as well as its expert assistance during Kyiv’s EU accession negotiations.
Zelenskyy also met with his Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nauseda in Kyiv and discussed Ukraine's defense and the primary needs of his country's soldiers on the front line.
“We all clearly understand that defending the Ukrainian state also means defending the independence of all nations bordering Russia. Our Europe and European way of life can only survive if Ukraine stands strong and wins this war,” he was quoted as saying in a presidential statement.
He went on to thank Lithuania for its military assistance to Kyiv since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war, the statement said, adding that the two leaders also discussed defense cooperation agreements, including investments in drone production and co-production in the country.
Nauseda, for his part, said Lithuania will continue to support Ukraine, particularly in terms of the supply of 155 mm caliber ammunition.
“Lithuania is investing 10 million euros ($11 million) in the production of Ukraine’s long-range ‘Palianytsia’ weapon. We are interested in this and discussed cooperation in the production of maritime drones,” Nauseda was quoted as saying in the official statement.
The statement said he also conveyed Lithuania’s request to NATO members to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles, fighter jets, and air defense systems, as well as to allow Kyiv to strike Russian military targets without restrictions.