https://united24media.com/latest-news/estonia-considers-sending-troops-to-support-ukraine-in-non-combat-roles-318
Estonia Considers Sending Troops to Support Ukraine in Non-Combat Roles
MAY 14, 2024 15:07
Estoniaβs government has engaged in βseriousβ discussions regarding sending troops to western Ukraine. These forces would assume non-combat, logistical roles to free up Ukrainian soldiers for frontline combat, stated Estonian National Security Advisor Madis Roll.
Rollβs remarks followed statements from the head of Estoniaβs Armed Forces, General Martin Herem, who previously said that there were internal military discussions months ago regarding the potential deployment of troops to western Ukraine for roles such as medical services, logistics, or air defense in certain western cities.
Madis Roll emphasized their preference for a NATO-led mission βto show broader combined strength and determinationβ. However, he left open the possibility of collaborating with a smaller coalition.
βDiscussions are ongoing,β Security Advisor said. βWe should be looking at all the possibilities. We shouldnβt have our minds restricted as to what we can do.β
Roll, speaking on May 10, pointed out that NATO members currently opposed to troop deployment might reconsider their stance over time, saying that this scenario is βnot unthinkable as time goes onβ.
This follows Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Ε imonytΔ expressing the willingness to send Lithuanian troops to Ukraine for training purposes.
βIf we just thought about the Russian response, then we could not send anything. Every second week you hear that somebody will be nukedβ, said Ε imonytΔ.
The potential deployment of Western troops to Ukraine has opened the door to a debate, ignited by the French President Emmanuel Macronβs comments, suggesting such a course of action might be necessary in the future.