NATO PA pushes for increased support to Ukraine and stronger NATO deterrence

According to the Head of the Estonian delegation to the NATO PA Raimond Kaljulaid, Estonia currently faces three challenges on the NATO level. “First of all, we are keen for every NATO ally to increase their defence spending. We have already done this and contribute more than five percent of our GDP, as do many other countries, but we need the same contribution from everyone to ensure our security,” he stressed.

Secondly, Kaljulaid highlighted the need to keep the issue of Ukraine on the agenda. “Thirdly, we need to continually stress on every level that unity is key and that discords between USA and Europe only benefit NATO’s enemies and opponents, especially Russia and China,” he said.

Member of the Estonian delegation, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Marko Mihkelson emphasised that the upcoming NATO summit must avoid any concessions when it comes to Ukraine. “The conclusions of the The Hague summit cannot be a step backwards compared to those made in Vilnius and Washington. This is why it is important for the NATO allies to invite the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to The Hague and organise a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council. Russia must not receive a signal that they have any kind of power over NATO decisions,” he said.

The focus of the declarations passed at the Spring Session of the Assembly was on supporting Ukraine and taking NATO deterrence and defence capability to a new level at the summit that is taking place in the Netherlands at the end of June.

The Assembly called on the governments of the allies to increase diplomatic, military, financial, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, support tougher sanctions against Russia and its accomplices, including in the oil and gas sector, and ensure that any peace agreement would prevent possible future aggressions by Russia, ensure the long term security of Ukraine, and strengthen European and Euro-Atlantic security. The declaration also included an appeal to NATO leadership to invite Ukraine to the The Hague summit, and to organise a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council on the level of the heads of government.

The second declaration concerned increasing the level of defence expenditure, strengthening the defence industry, and enhancing NATO deterrence. Among other things, the members of the Assembly advocated for strengthening NATO’s position in the Baltic Sea region, referring to both the Baltic air policing mission and the Baltic Sentry activities.

The MPs taking part in the session of the NATO PA also had a discussion with the Secretary General of NATO Mark Rutte, whose speech focused on increasing defence spending and developing defence industry. As the Spring Session, which started last week and ended on Monday, was dedicated to the 30^th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement, speeches were delivered by high representatives of Albania, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: NATO PA pushes for increased support to Ukraine and stronger NATO deterrence

Source: Parliament of Estonia