Estonia is considering purchasing drones from Ukraine

1 November, 2024 Ukrainian Lyuty attack drone.

2024. Photo credits: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Estonia has expressed its interest in purchasing drones from Ukraine for its army.

The Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur and the commander of the Estonian Defense Forces, Major General Andrus Merilo, discussed this possibility, ERR reports. Pevkur noted that the quality of drones produced in Ukraine was very good. "If we announce a tender, it will be open to the Ukrainian companies as well.

That is, we will be able to see proposals from the Ukrainian producers, as well as from the Estonian and Western producers," the minister said. In November, Pevkur will meet with his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umierov, to discuss the possibility of purchasing weapons.

Hanno Pevkur, Minister of Defense of Estonia. Photo credits: Iltalehti

"We have already discussed this issue.

If there are companies in Ukraine that can offer what we need, then (Umierov) sees no political limitations in this," the Estonian Minister said. Last month, Hanno Pevkur said that the Estonian government wanted to purchase weapons from the Ukrainian defense industry. 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. 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.

THeMIS drones by Milrem Robotics.

Photo from the company's page

The Estonian government intends to order weapons from its own defense industry to help Ukraine.