Estonia’s prime minister on Friday announced that his country is prepared to send a peacekeeping force to Ukraine as Europe continues to shore up its defenses against Russia.
During a press conference with Petteri Orpo, the prime minister of Finland, which is just north of Estonia, Prime Minister Kristen Michal said he would send a contingent of up to one company to Ukraine to support a EU peacekeeping mission when the time comes.
He didn’t elaborate on how many Estonian troops would be part of the mission. He added that Ukraine and Russia are still a long way off from a peace agreement.
“We are currently preparing for a meeting between the president of Ukraine and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. If it takes place, there may be a trilateral meeting. Only after that can we discuss how to ensure security, what guarantees should cover the process, and what contributions the USA and Europe will make. Only after that will we be able to understand how this military operation will take place, who will participate and what the prospects will be in this matter,” Mr. Michal said Friday.
Estonia’s promise comes as NATO allies work to build a framework for a lasting peace in Ukraine. Leaders from the U.K., Germany and France have expressed interest in putting troops on the ground in Ukraine to deter any future Russian attacks.
On Friday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte asserted that the U.S. and Europe would need to work together to create robust security guarantees for Ukraine. President Trump initially signaled support for putting U.S. troops on the ground in Ukraine but has since ruled that out.
Those security guarantees are chief among Ukraine’s peace demands, along with a total Russian retreat from captured Ukrainian territory. Some have warned that letting Russia keep parts of eastern Ukraine would incentivize Moscow to launch another attack in the near future.
