Estonia allocates a new military aid package to Ukraine
14 December, 2023 Soldiers with Javelin ATGM during training. December 2021. Photos: JFO press office
The government of Estonia agreed on an additional military aid package as part of long-term support to Ukraine, which will include infantry weapons, ATGMs, and vehicles. The news was published on the official website of the Estonian Ministry of Defence. Within the £80 million military aid package, the country will transfer a "large number" of FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missiles.
In addition to ATGMs, the new package will also include machine guns, ammunition for light weapons, vehicles and vessels, and diving equipment.
A soldier of the Estonian Defence Forces fires an MG3 machine gun. Photo from open sources
For security reasons, the detailed list of weapons planned for transfer was not publicized. However, considering the needs of Ukrainian marines holding a bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region, it could be riverboats.
Ukrainian soldiers crossing to the left bank of the Kherson region.
Photo credits: Associated Press
The Transatlantic Security Project
In addition, analysts from the Ministry of Defense have prepared a discussion paper on creating Transatlantic Defence Up for Success. The document contains calculations that demonstrate that for Ukraine to win and Russia to lose, it is enough for Ukraine's supporters to allocate 0.25% of their GDP to Ukraine annually. "The allies have what it takes - Russia is spending more than twice as much on the war in Ukraine as the Ramstein coalition, whose combined economy is 30 times larger than Russia's, is spending on military aid to Ukraine.
Our calculations show that if the free world wanted to help Ukraine with 0.25% of its GDP per year, it would be enough to break the back of Russia, which understands only brute force. This is a small price to pay compared to what the costs will be if Russian aggression eventually pays off for them," Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur reported. Over the next four years, Estonia is ready to allocate 0.25% of its GDP for military assistance to Ukraine and will use funds from the defense budget to finance the assistance.
"Ukraine is also fighting for us, and every combat vehicle destroyed with our help is a step towards reducing the Russian threat to Europe. Therefore, we must be ready to support Ukraine in the long term, as well as demonstrate to our allies that where there is a will, there is a way to help Ukraine," Pevkur explained. With the addition of the latest military aid package, Estonia has provided Ukraine with EUR500 million in military aid since 2022, which is approximately 1.4% of GDP.
Previous aid packages from Estonia to Ukraine included, among other things, Javelin anti-tank missile systems, howitzers, artillery ammunition, anti-tank mines, mortars, machine guns, vehicles, communications equipment, field hospitals, medical supplies, and personal protective equipment (helmets, body armor, etc.).