Estonia is ready to send a company of soldiers to Ukraine as part of the efforts of the "Coalition of the Willing" to ensure peace and security in the region. This was stated by the country's Prime Minister Kristen Michal, quoted by DPA and Ukrinform, reports BTA.
Michal confirmed that Estonia is ready to participate in the formation of a deterrent force, which is being discussed within the framework of the "Coalition of the Willing" led by the United Kingdom and France. The aim of this initiative is to provide concrete guarantees for the security of Ukraine.
According to the Prime Minister, the planning of the operation is still underway, but Estonia is already prepared to provide a ground combat unit of up to one company, which could includes combat troops, training instructors and staff officers. A company usually consists of about 150 soldiers, but the number can vary between 50 and 250 people.
On March 15, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed with coalition partners the possibility of sending more than 10,000 Western peacekeepers to Ukraine during a virtual meeting.
Mihal specified that before the Estonian company is deployed, approval from the Estonian parliament (Riigikogu) would be required. He added that Estonia continues to consider Ukraine's membership in NATO as the most reliable long-term security guarantee.
"If joining NATO takes time, defense and deterrence measures must be provided by allied forces deployed directly on the territory of Ukraine. Ukraine's security is the security of Europe. An independent, sovereign Ukraine, part of the European family, is the best strategic barrier against Moscow's imperialist ambitions. We must show that we are capable of acting, not just making declarations," Michal stressed.
The "Coalition of the Willing" is an informal group of countries that actively support Ukraine and its efforts to achieve a just peace. The AP agency notes that at present the United States has not made any specific commitments to provide security guarantees to Kiev.