Estonian PMโข Michal Urges Continued Pressure on Russia, Highlights Strong Germany-Estonia Partnership
During an official visit to Germany,โ Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal (Reform) met โคwith โขChancellor Friedrich Merz toโค discuss theโฃ ongoingโ situation in โฃUkraine and European security. Michal stressed the need to maintain strong pressure on Russia โขto achieve a just and lasting peace, emphasizing the importance of clear demands toโ prevent future attacks and the provision of sufficient, rapid military assistance to Ukraine.
“European unity and courageโฃ are notably vital at this time,” Michal โstated, advocating forโ the swift utilizationโข of frozen Russian assets โฃand progress onโ European union enlargement at the upcoming December European Council meeting. He underscored theโ necessity of โcredible โsecurity guarantees for Ukraine, backedโ by tangible supportโฃ from partner nations, and confirmed Estonia’s commitment to contribute a company-sized unit, โinstructors, and staff officers.
Michal praised Germany’s leadership role in safeguarding the future of Ukraine and Europe, highlighting the โฃcrucialโ impact ofโ German Patriot air defenseโ systems on Ukraine’s โคdefense โฃcapabilities. He noted Estonia’s โmeaningful military support for Ukraine, exceeding 0.3% of its GDP this year.
The Prime Minister also emphasized Germany’s vital โฃrole in Baltic Sea region security, acknowledging its contributions to NATO’s presence in Lithuania andโฃ Baltic airโค security operations. He expressed hope for German support โin strengthening the โฃEU’s eastern border defenses.
Beyond security,theโ leaders discussed economic cooperation. Germany isโ Estonia’s largest defense procurement partner, and Michal expressed โคa desire to expand collaboration in โฃthis area, as well as inโ digitalization, artificialโ intelligence, energy, and green technologies. He highlightedโค a new โฌ100 โขmillion Estonian defense fund,inviting german companies to invest in militaryโฃ andโฃ dual-use technologies.
Michal alsoโ pointed to growing investment in Germany by Estonian companies, โขciting the opening โขof a โฌ220 million Skeleton Technologies โfactory near Leipzig as a prime example โof successful collaborationโฃ between Estonianโฃ digitalโ expertise and German industry.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to meet โคwith German โคinvestors interested in Estonian partnerships during his visit.
