![Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal (L) and Latvia's President Edgars Rinkevics in Riga, Latvia, on April 4, 2024.](https://assets.kyivindependent.com/content/images/2024/04/ShmyhalLatvia1.jpg)
Shmyhal meets Latvia's president, lawmakers during Riga trip
Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal held a meeting with Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics during the former's visit to Riga on April 4.
Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal held a meeting with Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics during the former's visit to Riga on April 4.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal arrived in Latvia and met with his Latvian counterpart, Evika Silina, Shmyhal said on his Telegram channel on April 4.
The Latvian government approved on April 2 around 5.3 million euros (roughly $5.7 million) in support of Ukraine's reconstruction in 2024, as well as 4.3 million euros ($4.6 million) in defense assistance via the European Peace Facility.
Poland has decided to double its donation to the Czech-led initiative to purchase artillery shells for Ukraine, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in Riga on March 27, without providing a specific figure.
"Support from the U.S. has significantly helped Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania fast-track several military infrastructure and capability development projects," Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said in a statement.
Latvia's State Security Service (VDD) began investigating Tatjana Zdanoka, a Latvian member of the European Parliament accused of spying for Russia, the Latvian news outlet Delfi reported on March 16.
Eight hundred Russian citizens are at risk of being deported from Latvia because they have not yet applied for permanent or temporary residence.
The 367 people banned from entering Russia include a wide variety of current and former political and military leaders from the Baltic countries.
The Latvian government on March 5 approved a list of Russian and Belarusian agricultural and food products that will be banned from importing into the country since March 8.
Latvia has extended visa restrictions for Russian citizens until March 2025, the Latvian Foreign Affairs Ministry announced on Feb. 27.
Latvia's Agriculture Minister Armands Krauze called on the European Union to add Russian foodstuffs to sanctions lists on Feb. 26, ahead of an EU Agriculture Ministers meeting in Brussels.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics argued that Russian grain imports support the Russian economy and, therefore, its army, and what is labeled as Russian grain may, in fact, be Ukrainian grain stolen from Russian-occupied territories.
German authorities uncovered a major Russian-Eurasian money laundering network, which facilitated an illegal cash flow of tens of millions of euros, the Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office announced on Feb. 20.
The Estonian media outlet ERR reported earlier on Feb. 20 that the Estonian Internal Security Service (ISS) detained 10 people in connection with a series of crimes committed in late 2023, including vandalism of a car belonging to Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Laanemets.
The Netherlands announced on Feb. 14 that it would take part in a coalition led by Latvia to provide Ukraine with advanced military drone technology.
The Netherlands will join a Latvia-led coalition to supply Ukraine with advanced military drone technology, Dutch Defense Ministry Kasja Ollongren told Reuters on Feb. 14.
Farmers protested in 16 towns and cities across Latvia to demand an immediate ban on the import of food products from Russia and Belarus, Latvian media outlet Delfi reported on Feb. 5.