Minister of Defence of Estonia Martin Herem visited Ukraine this week to meet President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Minister of Defence of Ukraine Evgeniy Khmara and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko to discuss military support for Ukraine, defence industry cooperation, the development of defensive fortifications, and Ukraine’s experience in protecting its population and infrastructure.
Herem discussed strengthening Ukraine’s air defences, potential new contributions to PURL initiative, and the implementation of the drone deal between Estonia and Ukraine with President Zelensky. According to Zelensky, the agreement will enable Ukraine to export weapons to Estonia, providing Ukraine with additional resources to strengthen its own defences.
“I have visited many places in Ukraine and witnessed the courage of the Ukrainian people first-hand. We have much to learn from Ukraine about protecting the lives of our people and service personnel. When developing the Baltic Defence Line, we must take a comprehensive approach based on Ukraine’s experience, integrating it with drone defence. The more comprehensive our defences, the more lives they can help save,” said Minister of Defence Martin Herem.
Discussions with Minister of Defence of Ukraine Evgeniy Khmara focused on defence cooperation between Estonia and Ukraine and on applying Ukraine’s experience to the development of the Baltic Defence Line. Khmara confirmed Ukraine’s readiness to engage in practical cooperation with Estonia and the other Baltic countries in this area. Since 2024, Ukraine’s defensive fortifications have undergone significant development, drawing on lessons learned and adapting to evolving threats.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klychko briefed Herem on Russian attacks against the city’s critical infrastructure, including water, heating and electricity systems, bridges, hospitals and residential buildings. Klitschko thanked Estonia for its military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and noted that Ukraine’s resilience also has implications for the security of Europe, including the Baltic countries.
According to Klychko, evacuating residents is not an effective solution in this war, as it is precisely what Russian President Vladimir Putin wants: to concentrate people in one place and turn them into targets. Residents must therefore be prepared for attacks and know how to protect themselves. Even a basic shelter in the basement of a residential building can save lives.
Herem also met Andrii Tkachov, Head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, to discuss the city’s role in strengthening crisis preparedness and the use of data to inform decisions aimed at protecting residents and infrastructure. The Minister was also briefed on urban infrastructure damaged by the war.
Defence Minister Herem also met representatives of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service and Lieutenant General Oleh Ivashchenko, Head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, to receive an overview of the security situation and the threats facing Ukraine. He also met Davyd Aloian, Deputy Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, and visited a Ukrainian drone manufacturer and an air defence unit.
Since 2022, Estonia has provided military assistance to Ukraine to approximately two per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP). Under the 2026 assistance package, €73 million worth of aid has been delivered or is in the process of being delivered. Next year, Estonia plans to provide support to Ukraine amounting to 0.25 per cent of its GDP, or more than €100 million. The bulk of this support will be provided in the form of products manufactured by Estonian companies, including funding for industrial projects under the Build with Ukraine initaitive. In addition, five per cent of Estonia’s military assistance will be allocated to needs supported through Ukraine’s IT Coalition. In 2025 and 2026, Estonia contributed a total of €21 million to support Ukraine through PURL initiative.