Estonia Urges NATO to Fund Ukraine’s Defense Industry Instead of Sending Troops

Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur emphasizes Ukraine’s production potential and warns against troop deployments due to escalation risks.

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur has called on NATO allies to prioritize financial investment in Ukraine’s defense industry over deploying troops to the conflict.
Pevkur highlighted Ukraine’s ability to produce military equipment at scale, with annual howitzer production six to seven times higher than France’s, but noted a funding gap of $15 billion.
He warned that sending NATO troops could escalate the conflict with Russia, citing the risk of broader war if NATO personnel were killed in combat.
France has not ruled out deploying troops, though other allies, including the U.K. and Germany, have firmly opposed such moves, focusing instead on training Ukrainian forces outside Ukraine.
Pevkur stressed the importance of Western unity and decisive support for Ukraine to ensure victory, especially as geopolitical tensions rise during upcoming political transitions in the U.S. and Europe.