The Baltic states have been among Ukraine’s staunchest supporters since the start of the war amid its own tumultuous history with Russia, but Estonia is now pledging to allocate a percentage of its GDP annually to aid Kiev, Interfax reported.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaia Kallas, who was sworn in for a new term last April, said her government would spend 0.25% of Estonia’s GDP on military aid to Ukraine over the next four years.
“Estonia’s contribution to Ukraine’s victory will amount to 0.25% of GDP over the next 4 years. If each country contributes 0.25%, this is what Ukraine needs to win this war,” she called on other partner countries of Kyiv in an interview with the Tallinn television and radio company ERR.
She added that starting in 2022, Estonia provided military aid to Ukraine in the amount of almost 500 million euros.
“It is also necessary to ensure our security,” she explained.
In addition, Kallas said that Estonia will provide another 14 million euros per year for joint efforts to rebuild Ukraine and humanitarian programs.
Estonia warns the West against “war fatigue”
The Prime Minister of Estonia also noted that many people in democratic countries have become accustomed to the war in Ukraine and that under these conditions public opinion polls, which show “fatigue” of public opinion from the conflict, lead to the delay of necessary aid. To Kyiv.
She stated that it is necessary for people who make political decisions to constantly explain to the public in different countries why support for Ukraine is important.
His comments came just a day after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on European Union countries to increase arms supplies to Ukraine, saying “planned supplies are not enough.”
“No matter how significant Germany’s contribution is, it will not be enough to ensure the long-term security of Ukraine. That is why I am asking our allies in the European Union to step up their efforts towards Ukraine. Planned arms deliveries to Ukraine by most EU countries are not enough,” Scholz emphasized at a press conference in Berlin.
He added that Germany has asked the European Commission to consult with each member country about the shipments it intends to make, as not all such shipments are known.
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Source: Hot News
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