Estonia to provide Ukraine with military aid package worth EUR 113M

Ukrinform reports this with reference to the Estonian national broadcaster ERR.

Thus, Estonia's military assistance to Ukraine is increasing to EUR 370 million, or just over 1 percent of Estonia's GDP. The latest military aid package announced by Estonia consists of howitzers, ammunition, artillery support equipment as well as grenade launchers, according to a press release.

According to ERR, this package will include dozens of 155 mm and 122 mm howitzers and military trucks and thousands of shells to use with them, as well as more than 100 Carl-Gustaf anti-tank recoilless rifles and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

“Estonians know from their painful history what happens when evil triumphs and a large country swallows up smaller ones. If Ukraine falls, freedom is in danger elsewhere in the world as well. By helping Ukraine defend its independence, we are defending all countries' right to freedom and democracy, including Estonia's… Thus it is imperative that Estonia continues to provide military assistance to Ukraine,” Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said.

The prime minister added that the Ukrainians have been very fast learners in starting to use new weapons systems, and have been able to employ Estonian-provided military assistance very skillfully.

"We all want the war to end, but Russia has sent a clear signal that it is planning to continue its war of aggression. Therefore, the free world must continue to provide arms assistance to Ukraine, and do so at a much greater scale and speed,” she said.

The prime minister also called on other countries “to look into their stockpiles” so that to send weapons to Ukraine, as “Russia's war against Ukraine comes at a price — a price we pay in euros, but the Ukrainians are paying with their lives."

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur also emphasized Ukraine's major need for heavy weapons.

"Ukraine needs heavy weapons to maintain initiative and withstand Russia," the Estonian defense minister said.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas for the announced military aid package for Ukraine.

According to Ukrinform, Zelensky wrote this on his Twitter account.

“Deeply grateful to Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas for their biggest military defense aid package announced today, including howitzers, grenade launchers and ammunition. Estonian showed in deed its genuine support for Ukraine in fighting the aggressor. We value it. It is investment into our common victory!” Zelensky wrote.

As reported, on Thursday, a meeting of the defense ministers of the countries that support Ukraine will take place in Tapa (NATO military base in Estonia), which will focus on further military aid to Ukraine to repel the Russian aggression.

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