Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna urged Western countries to lift all restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western weapons in the war with Russia, ERR reports. “Ukraine cannot fight with its hands tied behind its back and yet win this war,” he stated. Also, he called for caution over various “peace initiatives” to end the war,…
Estonia may need to raise its defence spending to 5% of GDP to implement NATO’s new defence plans, Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur stated, ERR reports. He said that Estonia clearly needed to acquire more capabilities, including air defence systems and equipment to deal with chemical and biological weapons. The money needed would amount to EUR…
The Lithuanian Armed Forces (LGP) have received MP7 A2 submachine guns from German arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch, according to the Ministry of Defence, Army Recognition reports. The contract, signed in October 2023, is valued at EUR 1.56mn over a period of 72 months. The ministry selected the weapons for their tactical and technical features,…
The Lithuanian government has approved a draft resolution to withdraw from the Convention on Cluster Munitions, allowing to acquire, stockpile, and use these weapons, BNS reports. The proposal from the Defence Ministry follows the US decision to supply cluster munitions to Ukraine and is based on the argument that these munitions are highly effective for…
Latvia will support Ukraine until total victory, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics vowed, LSM reported. Speaking at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Riga, Rinkevics called for shifting the strategic focus. “We have to support Ukraine until complete victory, not, like some say, as long as necessary,” he stated. Complete victory means…
Estonian President Alar Karis said that the main purpose of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s official visit to Estonia was to thank the people of Estonia for their unwavering support during the ongoing war, ERR reported. He called on democratic countries to do more for Ukraine to win and for Russia to lose. The outcome of…
The Lithuanian Armed Forces (LGP) have received the first batch of Spanish-made EXPAL 120mm mortars, BNS reports. The Defence Ministry said that the modern high-quality weaponry provided a significant enhancement to Lithuania’s indirect fire support capabilities. The mortars have an effective range of up to eight kilometres. Lithuania signed a EUR 9.8mn procurement contract with…
Major General Veiko-Vello Palm, commander of the Estonian Division, highlighted the importance of acquiring long-range weapons, such as HIMARS systems, to enhance Estonia’s defence capabilities, ERR reported. He said that the focus on deep strikes and disrupting enemy supply lines had become crucial in countering potential threats. Palm acknowledged the need for continuous military growth,…
The presidents of the Baltic States and Poland met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss the transport of Ukrainian grain through EU ports, ERR reports. Estonian President Alar Karis noted that shipping Ukrainian grain via Baltic ports required cooperation with Poland. Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, speaker of the Lithuanian parliament,…
