Estonia to join next PURL aid package and hand over batch of drones to Ukraine this week, - Defense Minister Pevkur
This week, Estonia will transfer "many drones" worth tens of millions of euros to Ukraine and will also join the next PURL aid package from the Nordic and Baltic countries, contributing $12 million.
According to Censor.NET, citing a link to Ukrinform, this was announced by Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur before the start of the NATO defense ministers' meeting.
Yes, Pevkur regretfully noted a certain decrease in military aid to Ukraine.
"So we decided that this week we will also deliver many drones worth tens of millions in addition to what we have already done," the minister said.
He also announced that Estonia had decided to join the Baltic-Nordic PURL aid package. Four aid packages had already been agreed upon within this initiative (each worth around half a billion), and the next package will come from the Nordic and Baltic countries.
"So this is good news. Our contribution will amount to US$12 million," Pevkur said, adding that "the North Baltic package will be finalized very soon, possibly even today."
Pevkur also noted that today is the Ukrainian defense minister's birthday and expressed confidence that partners will prepare "nice gifts."
He added that he had been in Ukraine a few weeks ago, where he visited some factories producing interceptor drones, and added that some companies in his country were already producing interceptor drones. Next week will be a "long day of testing, when we will see how effective they are," the politician said.
According to the minister, there is still much to be done, as Ukrainian experience shows that Ukrainians are still unable to "see and catch" about 20-25% of drones. In addition, the Russians are already using Geran 3 drones with jet engines.
"Therefore, industry must work very intensively here, because, in my opinion, all countries have the funding for this," Pevkur emphasized.
The reality is that the share of US contributions to Ukraine has decreased significantly this year, "so it is not only us — all allies must help Ukraine win this war," he noted.
