Estonia is ‘seriously considering’ sending troops to Ukraine to provide ‘backline’ support to free up Ukrainian soldiers to fight on the front.
Madis Roll, the president of Estonia’s security advisor, told the Breaking Defense website that the government was currently analyzing the move which would see Estonian soldiers deployed in Western Ukraine in non-combatant roles.
He added that although the government would prefer to send troops as part of a NATO mission “to show shared strength and determination” it had not ruled out the possibility of going alone or as part of a smaller coalition.
Roll told the website: “Discussions are ongoing. We should consider all eventualities. We shouldn't limit ourselves in our ideas about what we can do.”
He went on to say that it is “not unimaginable” that NATO countries against the idea will change their minds “over time.”
The news follows last week’s announcement by the Commander-in-Chief of the Estonian Armed Forces, General Martin Herem, that the army had discussed sending soldiers to western Ukraine to take over tasks in medical services, logistics and the air defense of some cities, but the debate had ‘died down’.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron recently reaffirmed the possibility of sending French troops to Ukraine in an interview with the Economist, while Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Szimonyte said that her country is open to sending soldiers as part of a training mission.
Admitting that Russia would consider such actions to be hostile, she added: "If we only thought about Russia's reaction, we wouldn't be able to send anything to Ukraine; every other day we hear (threats from Moscow - PAP) that someone will be attacked with nuclear weapons."
He added that although the government would prefer to send troops as part of a NATO mission “to show shared strength and determination” it had not ruled out the possibility of going alone or as part of a smaller coalition.
Roll told the website: “Discussions are ongoing. We should consider all eventualities. We shouldn't limit ourselves in our ideas about what we can do.”
He went on to say that it is “not unimaginable” that NATO countries against the idea will change their minds “over time.”
The news follows last week’s announcement by the Commander-in-Chief of the Estonian Armed Forces, General Martin Herem, that the army had discussed sending soldiers to western Ukraine to take over tasks in medical services, logistics and the air defense of some cities, but the debate had ‘died down’.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron recently reaffirmed the possibility of sending French troops to Ukraine in an interview with the Economist, while Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Szimonyte said that her country is open to sending soldiers as part of a training mission.
Admitting that Russia would consider such actions to be hostile, she added: "If we only thought about Russia's reaction, we wouldn't be able to send anything to Ukraine; every other day we hear (threats from Moscow - PAP) that someone will be attacked with nuclear weapons."
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