Ukraine, Estonia strengthen defence ties with new memorandum

The defence ministers of Ukraine and Estonia, Rustem Umerov and Hanno Pevkur, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a significant step in strengthening military cooperation between the two countries.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine announced the signing on its Telegram channel, emphasizing that the MoU builds on the earlier Agreement on Cooperation in Security and Long-Term Support, signed in June by Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Caliber.Az reports via Ukrainian media.

According to the Ministry, the memorandum extends Estonia’s military aid to Ukraine for the period 2024-2027. This support, which amounts to 0.25% of Estonia's GDP, will be allocated to key areas, including providing material assistance to Ukraine’s Armed Forces, financing the IT coalition led by Estonia, and facilitating the training of Ukrainian military personnel.

“This is not just a one-sided aid package; it is an exchange of valuable experience. Ukraine will contribute its battlefield knowledge, which will significantly enhance the defence capabilities of Estonia and its international partners,” the Ministry stated.

This strengthened partnership is expected to enhance Ukraine's military readiness while reinforcing Estonia's defence strategies and regional security efforts.

For the record, Estonia is one of the leaders in supporting Ukraine, having already spent more than 550 million euros to strengthen Ukraine's defence capabilities. This corresponds to 1.4% of Estonia's GDP, which is the highest figure in this metric.

By Khagan Isayev