According to information from Estonian presidential security adviser Madis Roll, published by Breaking Defense, the Estonian government is considering sending military personnel to western Ukraine to perform logistical tasks in support of the Ukrainian armed forces. Roll emphasized that there is no talk of direct participation in hostilities.
Roll specified that if this plan is approved, the Estonian military will take over the logistics, which will allow the Ukrainian forces to concentrate on combat operations. Estonian authorities are currently analyzing the possibilities for such a contribution and seek to act as part of a broad NATO mission, which, according to Roll, would demonstrate the alliance's unity and resolve. Despite the current stance of NATO countries against sending troops, Roll does not rule out that the situation could change.
General Martin Herem, head of the Estonian Defense Forces, said the government has been considering sending its military for medical, humanitarian and logistical assistance for several months, but he said Tallinn has not come to a concrete decision.
Earlier, French President Macron made a similar suggestion that he was ready to send soldiers to Ukraine. The conditions for sending Western troops to Ukraine would be a breakthrough of the front and a corresponding request from Kyiv, French President Emmanuel Macron said then in an interview with The Economist.
The Kremlin regards such statements by European leaders as threats. Putin's spokesman Peskov responded to the statements by Macron and other European leaders by saying that such European intentions are “dangerous” and lead to a direct armed clash.
Some members of the North Atlantic alliance, such as Germany, the U.S. and Italy, have rejected the possibility of troops entering Ukraine, fearing an escalation of war. Alliance Secretary General Stoltenberg noted that Kyiv had asked for more support, but no request for military deployment has been received from Ukraine so far.
