The War in Ukraine

Mart Helme, a member of the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament), posed a question to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas concerning the war in Ukraine and Estonia’s preparedness should the conflict conclude unfavorably for Estonia. Helme referenced articles in the Western media (e.g., the Wall Street Journal) that suggest Ukraine is in a poor position and faces the possibility of a forced peace or even capitulation. He also highlighted the accelerated defense readiness of Finland and Sweden and the public debate surrounding war preparations, asking what the government's contingency plan for Estonia is if Ukraine, which is allegedly fighting on our behalf, were to lose.
In her response, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stressed that Estonia has been working on securing its border for years, and the current focus must be on Russia’s defeat in order to end its imperialistic ambitions. Kallas underscored the necessity of supporting Ukraine militarily and isolating Russia politically, as well as holding it accountable for war crimes and utilizing frozen assets for reparations. She warned that any ceasefire where Russia avoids accountability would merely be a pause that the aggressor would use to regroup and gather strength. Kallas affirmed that Estonia is continually preparing, investing in defense, and cooperating with NATO, stressing that strength, not weakness, is what deters an aggressor. In a follow-up question, Helme painted a picture of a "perfect storm," referencing the Taiwanese elections, potential Chinese military action, and resulting conflicts in South Korea and Israel, which would tie up US resources. Helme asked whether the government had established a specific timeframe for preserving independence should such a multifaceted crisis erupt. Kallas replied directly that plans for preserving Estonia’s independence are indeed in place. She reiterated that aggression feeds aggression, and confirmed that while not all elements can be foreseen, the government has considered and modeled possible scenarios at both the national and European levels.