Estonia to provide Ukraine with a new military aid package

12 November, 2024 The Estonian military uses the Mistral anti-aircraft missile system during exercises.

2023. Photo credits: Maria Grunberg/EDF Estonia will provide a new military aid package for the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur announced this during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on November 11. The Minister also confirmed further defense assistance that Ukraine will receive from Estonia. "I met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and reaffirmed our continued military assistance for Ukraine.

On the way to his office, I also signed a new military aid package with clothing, small arms, etc. New packages will be delivered next year," Pevkur emphasized. Zelensky said that during the meeting, he thanked Pevkur for the new package and the decision to allocate 0.25% of GDP per year to help Ukraine, which is enshrined in the bilateral security agreement.

Volodymyr Zelensky meets with Hanno Pevkur.

Kyiv, November 11, 2024. Photo credits: Office of the President

The President also emphasized the need for effective cooperation between the countries to implement all of the document's provisions. The main issues discussed during the meeting included the urgent defense needs of Ukraine and the necessary assistance to man new brigades of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

Ukrainian Lyuty attack drone.

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

During the meeting, special attention was paid to the possibilities of the Estonian side to finance the production of long-range drones in Ukraine. Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur also discussed current cooperation issues in the defense sector during their meeting in Kyiv.

Rustem Umyerov's meeting with Hanno Pevkur.

Kyiv, November 11, 2024. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

In particular, they discussed further steps to strengthen cooperation between the two countries: investments in the Ukrainian defense industry, additional military assistance packages, contributions to the IT Coalition, and training of Ukrainian military personnel. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry recently announced that the Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive air defense missiles manufactured by the Estonian defense company Frankenburg Technologies for testing.

These inexpensive missiles are designed primarily to shoot down drones.

Estonia is also interested in purchasing drones from Ukraine for its own army.