Latvia is in favor of supplying combat aircraft to Ukraine

BERLIN, 5 March. (DPA/EP) -

The Latvian Prime Minister, Krisjanis Karins, has been in favor of supplying combat aircraft to Ukraine, assuring that the delivery of fighters to Kiev "is only a matter of time."

"I don't see why the West should not supply combat planes. If the Ukrainians need fighters, let them receive them," Karins said in an interview with the weekly 'Der Spiegel' collected by DPA.

In this sense, he has indicated that, in his opinion, all countries should strengthen their defense industries, including Germany.

"What is needed now, above all, is ammunition. German industry has the best conditions to reinforce Europe's defence", stated the Latvian Prime Minister, recalling that "Russia is producing 24 hours a day" and that it is immersed in a war economy while Europe "continues to produce in peace mode".

"It is true that we all want peace. But the only way to peace is for Ukraine to win. And for that, it needs our weapons," he said.

Commenting on NATO's spending targets, Karins has argued for a higher benchmark.

"Latvia will spend more than 2.5 percent on defense this year, our target is 3 percent," he said, stressing that as a "frontline state" with Russia, "Latvia has no choice."

"At the NATO level, we first have to make sure that all members reach 2 percent. And yes, we should already be talking about a new target, 2.5 percent for example," Karins said.

NATO members currently aim to spend 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on defense by 2024. Along these lines, the Baltic states of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania declared in December that they wanted to further increase their spending. in defense, given the Russian invasion of Ukraine.