Until the aftermath of the First World War, both countries were part of the
Russian Empire. Diplomatic relations between the
Ukrainian People's Republic and the
Republic of Latvia were established in 1918. Subsequently, Ukraine was subsumed into the
Soviet Union by 1922, while Latvia was
occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940. Both countries re-established diplomatic relations on February 12, 1992. and Ukrainian Prime Minister
Denys Shmyhal meet in 2024
Russian Invasion of Ukraine In January 2022, during the
prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Latvia announced it would send
FIM-92 Stinger air defense systems to Ukraine. The air defense systems were delivered in February 2022, shortly before the
Russian invasion of Ukraine. declared its readiness to accept Ukrainian refugees and suspended the issuance of Latvian visas to Russian citizens. In April 2024,
Latvia pledged to supply Ukraine with domestically produced drones worth €1 million as part of its ongoing military assistance. As a participant in the Drone Coalition, Latvia committed to allocating at least €10 million throughout the year to support Ukraine with drone-related aid, including production, procurement, and training. Since the start of
Russia's full-scale invasion, Latvia has provided nearly €860 million in aid to Ukraine. This includes €540 million in
military assistance, €225 million to support
Ukrainian civilians in Latvia, €82 million in
humanitarian aid, and €12 million for reconstruction efforts. Latvia has pledged to continue its military support, committing at least 0.25% of its GDP to Ukraine aid in both 2025 and 2026. Latvia plans to deliver 42 domestically produced
Patria AWVs to Ukraine by 2025 in addition to providing various forms of assistance, including long-term support beyond a potential ceasefire. == Trade ==