Estonia Expresses Interest in Ukrainian-Made Long-Range Weapons

13 October, 2024 The launcher of the Neptune missile system on the Tatra 815-7 chassis.

2021. Ukraine. Photo from the Independence Day parade

The Estonian government has expressed interest in buying weapons from the Ukrainian defense industry. ERR reported on this with reference to the country's Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur. The Estonian Defense Minister believes that such cooperation can help the Ukrainian defense industry increase production.

An obstacle to the realization of such defense cooperation between Estonia and Ukraine is the ban on arms exports by Ukraine that has been imposed during martial law.

2S22 Bohdana 155mm wheeled self-propelled gun. Photo credits: ArmyInform

According to Minister Pevkur, the export ban will not be a hindrance if the countries come to an agreement, and such cooperation would be beneficial for both Estonia and Ukraine. "If we get the consent of the Ukrainian government, then, of course, we can do it.

We need to understand here that this can only be done in such a way that if we buy, Ukraine gets more money. And they will be able to produce more for their army," Pevkur said. According to Reserve Major Stan Reimann, the conditions for such cooperation are not the most stable at the moment.

According to Pevkur, if Estonia and Ukraine do come to an agreement on this issue, Estonia will buy only what is really necessary for the country.

Ukrainian Lyuty attack drone.

2024. Photo credits: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

"Long-range missiles are certainly interesting for us. There are many different options.

Of course, we can't talk in detail, but first of all, we will look at these systems that can affect the enemy at a long range," Pevkur emphasized. Next week, Pevkur will meet with Ukraine's defense minister in Brussels, and in the coming weeks he will visit Ukraine. On October 9, Militarnyi reported that Ukraine was considering lifting the ban on the export of drones to obtain additional funds to increase their production for the needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

Exporting drones could bring Ukraine up to £20 billion.

Oleksandr Marikovskyi, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Subcommittee on Economic Affairs, stated that this is exactly the money Ukraine needs.