At a press conference in Białystok, eastern Poland, during the final day of a summit of the parliamentary leaders on Tuesday, Daiga Mierina, the Chairwoman of the Latvian parliament, Saeima, announced that Latvia will allocate 0.25% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to aid Ukraine.
She emphasized the unified stance of the regional countries in their support, stating: "We will support Ukraine as long as it is needed and necessary." Mierina added that Latvia has already signed an agreement with Ukraine to formalize this financial commitment.
Echoing Latvia's support, the leaders from Lithuania and Estonia also assured their unwavering aid. Discussions are ongoing on strengthening military assistance and boosting their own defense production capabilities, state news agency PAP reported.
Viktorija Czmilyte-Nielsen, the leader of Lithuania's parliament, Seimas, highlighted the geopolitical shift to Central and Eastern Europe, describing it as both an opportunity and a responsibility. "During our meeting, we had the chance to reaffirm our commitment to supporting Ukraine, united by admiration for Ukrainians fighting for their freedom and democracy," she stated.
The summit also included discussions on speeding up Ukraine's accession to the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), stressing the strategic importance of Ukraine in the regional defense against Russian aggression.
Lauri Hussara, the Chairman of the Estonian parliament, Riigikogu, stressed the importance of cooperation among the regional states. He noted that both Estonia and Latvia were working to implement similar financial contributions to Ukraine, emphasizing long-term agreements on defense and support.
The leaders agreed to meet at least twice a year to discuss ongoing developments in Ukraine and ensure coordinated efforts in their support strategies.
(rt/jh)
Source: IAR, PAP