Interpellation concerning the enhancement of the wartime indirect fire capability of the Defense Forces (No. 72)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session.
Date: 2024-01-15 18:16
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 60
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 55m
AI Summaries: 60/60 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Today's session addressed the interpellation submitted by Riigikogu members Leo Kunnas, Alar Laneman, Rene Kokk, Jaak Valge, Ants Frosch, and Henn Põlluaas concerning the enhancement of the Defense Forces' indirect fire capability during wartime. The interpellation focused on the current status and future plans for Estonia's artillery and indirect fire capabilities, comparing our readiness with that of other nations, such as Finland.
During the discussion, several critical questions were raised regarding Estonia's defense readiness, including deficiencies in indirect fire capability, the impact of military aid provided to Ukraine on our own defense capacity, and the necessity of future investments. Prime Minister Kaja Kallas provided detailed answers to all questions, clarifying the government's plans and priorities in the field of national defense. A particularly sharp debate ensued over whether Estonia is adequately prepared for a potential military conflict and how to balance supporting Ukraine with maintaining its own defense readiness.
Decisions Made 1
No specific decisions were adopted during the sitting. The session was an interpellation where existing government plans and strategies for developing the defense forces' indirect fire capability were discussed.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Leo Kunnas, who submitted the initial inquiry and later provided detailed military advice to the prime minister. Kunnas, a career military officer, adopted a constructive and expert position, focusing on specific military needs and recommendations for improving indirect fire capability.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The third item on the agenda concerns the interpellation submitted on May 8th regarding the enhancement of the wartime indirect fire capability of the defense forces. The interpellation was submitted by Leo Kunnas, Alar Laneman, Rene Kokk, Jaak Valge, Ants Froschi, and Henn Põlluaas, with Leo Kunnas serving as the rapporteur.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He expressed his weariness, repeating that the inquiries were submitted this year, and joked that perhaps he had traveled in time.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar apologized, confirmed the correct clarification, and stated that it happened last year, on May 8th, before turning to address Leo Kunnas.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas emphasized that Estonia's indirect fire and artillery capabilities are insufficient with current resources, and since we have ceded a large portion of our weapon systems to aid Ukraine, he presented five specific questions to the government regarding the enhancement of indirect fire capability. He further stressed that implementing the program requires significantly greater defense expenditures than 3.2% of GDP, because a portion of that funding goes toward aid for Ukraine, and robust investments are needed to increase defense capability.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invited Prime Minister Kaja Kallas to the Riigikogu rostrum to respond to the interpellation.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas confirmed that, despite limited resources, Estonia remains a NATO and EU ally and is focusing on increasing its indirect fire capability: a joint indirect fire unit for HIMARS and loitering aerial munitions will be established under the division; a wheeled self-propelled artillery unit will be added; 120 mm mortars and ammunition stockpiles will be increased within the territorial defense; fire control will be modernized with a system transitioned to the digital Tooru control; and allied compatibility is a priority. The goal is to digitally manage all indirect fire units with increased readiness by the end of the national defense development plan in 2031.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar gives thanks and announces that the Prime Minister has several questions to answer, and Martin Helme will be the first to present his.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme accuses the Reform Party and Kaja Kallas of stoking primal fear of Russia in order to boost their popularity and push unacceptable measures through society. He also criticizes mistakes made in national defense and the reduction of indirect fire systems, while simultaneously asking when and how many HIMARS and K9 systems will arrive in Estonia.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that Ukraine is fighting for Estonia, and as long as Russia is waging war in Ukraine, it will not attack anyone else, and these multiple rocket launchers will arrive as early as 2025.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman invites Rain Epler to the stage.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler asks whether it was sensible for Estonia, bordering Russia and considering our location, to take major risks and create a capability gap that can only be closed in the coming years, especially when compared to the cautious approaches of Poland and other countries.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kallas stated that Estonia is not creating capability gaps because defense relies on the collective defense of NATO allies. We have HIMARS (though they are not yet ours and will arrive separately), and the ammunition situation has improved due to earlier decisions and procurements, meaning the situation is much better than it was years ago.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar turns to Mart Helme and asks him for something.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme warns that claims made regarding Bild's secret materials suggest a NATO–Russia war could start this summer, and that NATO intends to deploy up to 300,000 soldiers to the territories along the eastern border. He calls on the government to stand up for itself and do everything possible to ensure the war does not reach here.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
He announces that it is your time and calls you to action.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme asks what you are doing to prevent war from breaking out on our territory.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas emphasized that Estonia's objective is to prevent war on this territory. We are achieving this by raising defense spending to 3.2%, initiating procurements for ammunition purchases, and boosting the presence of allies and pre-positioned capabilities. We are shifting from a deterrence concept to a defense concept, ready to defend our territory from the very first moment, while working closely with NATO and increasing defense investments, even though the data indicates that Russia is not seeking a conflict with NATO.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Kert Kingo to the stage.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo asked the speaker what the claim—that we are being protected by Ukraine fighting—was based on, and demanded a clear confirmation right there from the podium/stage that Russia would not attack Estonia.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that she cannot give assurances regarding Putin’s intentions, and that while Putin is fighting in Ukraine, he is unable to open multiple fronts against NATO countries, but she emphasized that she will not provide guarantees on Putin’s behalf.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme criticizes the donation of weapons to Ukraine, warning that if you give everything away, you eventually give away the door, and then the tanks will arrive. She also questions how the situation can possibly improve when supplies are dwindling and 67 weapons have already been handed over, meaning the replacement quantities received do not cover the amounts that were donated.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar offers his thanks and addresses Helle-Moonika Helme with a request.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that there are differences in systems and their effectiveness. We have not given everything away and are constantly replenishing our stocks. Furthermore, allies have deployed pre-positioned capabilities and brought capabilities here that we did not previously possess, and we have more ammunition now than ever before.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman invites Kalle Grünthal to the stage.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal criticizes the promise of collective defense, recalls the scandalous claim that NATO forces would arrive after 300 days, and asks how much of Estonia's infrastructure and population would remain after surviving two military engagements.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that before the Madrid summit we had deterrence plans, but now we have defense plans, with which Estonia, together with its allies, is ready to defend the territory from the first centimeter, from the first minute, and what was previously claimed is no longer true.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chair called Evelin Poolamets to the stage.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The speech raises questions about whether the reported 1.2 billion in aid to Ukraine is accurate, what exactly comprises this sum, when it will be delivered, and where the funding is coming from.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas confirmed that aid to Ukraine will amount to 0.25% of GDP over the next four years.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Priit Sibul is asking what level of decision this is, how it was made for four years, and what document or decision establishes this 0.25%, given that the budget strategy was adopted earlier.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Please welcome Priit Sibul to the stage.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
The government has decided that the substance of this decision must certainly be reflected in the state budget.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman asks Arvo Aller to come to the stage.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller recommended allocating 1.2 billion euros towards strengthening Estonia's defense capabilities and returning military conscripts who have fled to Estonia back to Ukraine.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kallas stated that Estonia is continuously stockpiling ammunition and strengthening its positions, and we support Ukraine because Ukraine is fighting for us, and a Russian victory is not in anyone's interest—this is part of our defense strategy, as Ukraine is fighting against our primary threat.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the Prime Minister, announced that there were no further questions, opened the debates, and invited the questioner, Leo Kunnas, to the Riigikogu rostrum to speak first.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas is asking for three more minutes of extra time.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman requests three minutes of additional time.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas recommended strengthening indirect fire capability, proposing the development of long-range batteries (70–300 km) with allied assistance. He emphasized that the critical minimum is four battalion-sized units, and by 2026, two brigades and two divisional battalions should be fully equipped, enabling independent fire control on the front line across a 40 km range.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman asks the colleague to speak closer to the microphone so that the colleagues can hear better.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
My recommendation is to immediately implement the divisional artillery decisions and mechanize the infantry brigades so that the country possesses approximately 200 weapon systems and an independent defense capability. We must avoid delaying these decisions until the end of the decade and aim to achieve this by 2027–2028. Furthermore, we should focus on increasing mortar and ammunition stockpiles, and consider the domestic production of explosives to stimulate the economy, utilize allied systems, and continue supporting Ukraine.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman offers his thanks and next invites Martin Helme to the podium.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He or she asks for eight minutes.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar requests three minutes of extra time.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme says that although Ukraine’s victory is in the interest of Estonian security, it should not be turned into an emotional slogan, because the Estonian government has ceded weapons and ammunition and allowed migration on a larger scale, thereby increasing the Russian threat and making Estonia resemble Russia’s fifth column. The risks have grown, comparable to the situation in 1939.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Next, Mart Helme is invited to the podium.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme states that war is a reality and Estonia's defense is currently inadequate, demanding rapid, diversified, and large-scale investments to boost anti-drone capabilities, air defense, ammunition, and overall defense capacity, rather than defense relying on border guards' pistols or talk based on statistics.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He notes that it's time, and then turns to his colleague.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The message of the call is that a good colleague wants more time.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He is asking for three more minutes.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme accuses the Reform Party, claiming that their defense policy and the path toward an expeditionary force endanger Estonia's preparedness and could lead to the territory falling under Russia's control. At the same time, he asserts that Ukraine is not fighting for us, and Estonia must contribute itself instead of relying on others.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He thanks his colleague and confirms that time is up.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He notes that he understands the criticism and that his time is up, but adds that he is speaking honestly.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is a brief statement: Toomas Kivimägi says, "That's enough, good colleague!" meaning that the conversation should end, and he addresses his colleague in a friendly manner.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He points out that if people have so flagrantly violated the work and internal regulations, he can still speak for a few more seconds.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi stated that the remark was inappropriate, and he remained very polite and composed, indicating that time was up.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal criticizes the leaders of the Estonian Defence Forces, stating that they are stuck in outdated World War II combat concepts and are focusing on large self-propelled artillery, while ignoring Ukraine's experience regarding the crucial importance of drones and electronic warfare, and that this therefore jeopardizes the security of the Estonian state.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi requests that three minutes be added.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal asserts that Estonia's defense capabilities are severely lagging. He argues that the challenges of countering drones and the ongoing debate about banning landmines prove that we are unable to mount sufficient resistance. He is prepared to be called stupid for speaking the truth, stating that the examples coming out of Ukraine confirm that we are, in reality, defenseless.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi concluded the debate and announced that the processing of the agenda item had been completed.