UK and US aid for Ukraine should inspire others to do more, Estonia’s ‘Iron Lady’ says

British and American defence pledges for Ukraine should inspire other countries to follow suit, Kaja Kallas, the prime minister of Estonia, has said.

“If we fail to help Ukraine, what does it say about us?”, said Ms Kallas, who has been dubbed “Europe’s Iron Lady” for her fierce criticism of Putin’s illegal invasion and is on a Kremlin wanted list.

Ms Kallas was speaking after the UK this week pledged a £500 million boost for Ukraine and its largest-ever provision of vital supplies, including some 400 vehicles, 1,600 munitions and four million rounds of ammunition.

The package came as Rishi Sunak also announced plans to boost British defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, and after the US finally approved a long-delayed $60 billion (£48.5 billion) aid package for Ukraine.

And on Friday night, the US announced its largest ever military aid donation for Kyiv, pledging to send much-needed air defence munitions and artillery rounds.

Security at stake

Speaking exclusively to The Telegraph, Ms Kallas said: “The free world must demonstrate the will to defeat Russian aggression in Ukraine – this is the best and cheapest way to ensure all of our security.

“Ukraine needs both our swift military aid and long-term support. Russia’s goals have not changed, it has always played on the card of one day our help diminishing and our unity crumbling.”

She added: “In this regard, every arms and ammunition package, including the latest by the UK and also by the US, are highly welcome.

“It should also inspire others to deliver to Ukraine what it urgently needs. We should not forget that we have the resources and expertise – our strength outweighs Russia’s.”

‘More is required’

British troops are stationed in Estonia, which was occupied by the Soviet Union, neighbours Russia and was one of the first European countries to send military aid to Ukraine.

“To meet the demands of the new security reality, more is required from everyone, not only those countries who share a border with Russia,” Ms Kallas said.

“In Nato, two per cent is the agreed minimum, but not everyone has been doing this. Some allies, including Estonia, are now spending more than three per cent or even four per cent [of GDP on defence].

“The UK’s steps to raise its defence spending in the face of the changed security situation are on the right track,” she said.

Threat to all of Europe

Ms Kallas added: “We have been slow learners, but it’s important that European governments are picking it up. Europe’s defence-spending trajectory has had a sharp upturn. It reached a total of €360 billion last year – a level not seen since the Cold War.

“But we all still have a long way to go, and we do not have the luxury of time. Russian imperialism is a threat to all of Europe and it is important that our allies see it that way, too.”

Jan Lipavský, the Czech foreign minister, told the Telegraph that he also welcomed the British support.

He said: “Czechia has been, along with the UK, at the forefront of Ukraine support, as we know from our history that the further Russia is from our borders, the better.”

Defending the skies

Ukraine has in recent months pleaded for more air defences from its allies as it struggles to fend off a surge in deadly attacks on civilian infrastructure.

The $6 billion support package from Washington announced on Friday includes interceptors for both Patriot and Nasams air defence systems.

“This is the largest security assistance package that we’ve committed to date,” Lloyd Austin, the US Defence Secretary, told journalists following the conclusion of a virtual meeting of dozens of Kyiv’s international supporters.

“They need air defence interceptors, they need artillery systems and munitions. They need... armoured vehicles, they need maintenance and sustainment. So all of those kinds of things are included in the package.”

It follows another package valued at $1 billion, which was announced just after President Joe Biden signed the much-delayed bill to provide new funding for Ukraine.