TALLINN – Estonia's Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur on Thursday spoke via video bridge with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to introduce the long-term military support strategy for Ukraine presented by Estonia to Western allies and the package of assistance of nearly 80 million euros approved by the Estonian government.
"I told Umerov that Estonia has decided to support Ukraine with military aid equaling 0.25 percent of the gross domestic product for the next four years, and in order to not make nothing but words, we have put together a new package of assistance with a total value of nearly 80 million euros," Pevkur said according to spokespeople for the Estonian ministry.
The latest package of assistance includes a large quantity of Javelin anti-tank missiles and machine guns, ammunition for small arms, various land and water craft, as well as diving equipment.
"We will be sending to Ukraine what is most needed on the front and what we can provide from this long list of needs," Pevkur said.
Introducing the strategy of long-term support, Pevkur told his Ukrainian counterpart that if we can show a decisive political commitment in the West and increase our military assistance slightly or maintain it at the same level as today, it is possible for Ukraine to win the war.
"But to do so, we need to prepare credibly and make it clear that we are ready for a long period of support for Ukraine. Together, we need to step up our assistance to Ukraine by making long-term commitments. We in Estonia have already done this and we will certainly do it in the future," the minister said.
The government on Thursday supported the defense minister's proposal for long-term military aid to Ukraine and an extensive military aid package for Ukraine in defense against the Russian aggression. The aid includes Javelin anti-tank missiles, vessels, and other much-needed equipment. In addition to a large quantity of Javelin anti-tank mines, the newest aid package also includes machine guns, ammunition for light weaponry, various vehicles and vessels, as well as diving equipment. The exact amounts are not public for security reasons. The replacement value of the package is nearly 80 million euros.
For the next four years, Estonia is ready to allocate 0.25 percent of its GDP to finance military aid for Ukraine and will use money earmarked for national defense to finance the assistance.
With the addition of the newest military aid package, since 2022 Estonia has provided Ukraine with military aid in the value of 500 million euros, which amounts to approximately 1.4 percent of the country's GDP.
Earlier aid packages from Estonia to Ukraine have included, for example, Javelin anti-tank missile systems, howitzers, artillery ammunition, anti-tank mines, anti-tank mortars, machine guns, vehicles, communications equipment, field hospitals, medical supplies, personal protective gear, including helmets and body armor, as well as military food rations.
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