Today 26 October, Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu was in Brussels to meet with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and discuss the implementation of the decisions of NATO’s Madrid summit, and the objectives of the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Bucharest on 29 and 30 November.
Reinsalu said it was critical now for NATO member states to provide Ukraine with air defence systems and missiles.
Speaking with Secretary General Stoltenberg, Reinsalu highlighted the need to make quick progress with reinforcing NATO’s deterrence and defence posture and increasing Allied land, sea and air presence, as was agreed in Madrid. “A greater military presence of the United States, especially on NATO’s Eastern Flank, is in Europe’s security interests. The Alliance must reinforce its security and show Russia unequivocally that its military escalation in Ukraine and pressuring the West with the energy crisis and nuclear threats will only lead to a stronger Allied unity and response to the aggressor,” the foreign minister said.
Reinsalu added that Finland and Sweden joining NATO contributes to the security of the Baltic Sea region and the Alliance in general, and said he hoped the process would be completed soon.
The foreign minister spoke to the secretary general about continued support to Ukraine and Ukraine’s application to join NATO. “I reaffirmed Estonia’s continued support to the decision of NATO’s 2008 Bucharest summit, stating that Ukraine would become a NATO member. We must remember that Ukraine is fighting for not only the freedom of its country and people but also the security of Europe and the values we cherish,” Reinsalu said.
The foreign minister will also meet with the European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson in Brussels today and discuss further support to Ukraine.