Zelenskyy expresses gratitude to Latvia for its additional PURL contribution, outlining key agreements.

Zelenskyy holds talks with Latvia’s president

According to Novyny.live: A conversation took place on June 26 between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his Latvian counterpart, Edgars Rinkēvičs. The discussion centered on military assistance, defense initiatives, and Ukraine’s progress toward joining the European Union. Special emphasis was placed on cooperation under the Drone Deal initiative, which aims to enhance Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.

Latvia reaffirmed its additional financial commitment to the PURL program—a move Zelenskyy described as a vital form of support.

“I thanked Latvia for its recent decision to make an extra contribution to the PURL program. This is extremely important for us: every contribution means more lives saved from Russian attacks. We also count on collaboration and joint projects under the SAFE initiative,” the Ukrainian president stated.

Pre-NATO summit discussions

Beyond defense cooperation, the leaders also addressed their respective positions ahead of the upcoming NATO summit. Latvia voiced its support for opening the necessary negotiation clusters for Ukraine’s EU accession. Separately, Zelenskyy recently held talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on defense collaboration. As part of ongoing efforts to counter Russian aggression, President Zelenskyy extended sanctions targeting Russia’s military-industrial complex and collaborators, affecting 67 individuals and one legal entity.

This dialogue underscores the critical role of international backing for Ukraine amid continued Russian aggression. Latvia’s support—including financial aid and joint defense projects—reflects the growing unity among European nations on matters of regional security and stability. Meanwhile, preparations for the NATO summit and active negotiations over EU membership highlight Ukraine’s strategic push for deeper Euro-Atlantic integration.