Participation of the Defense Forces in the War in Ukraine
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, third sitting, information briefing
Date: 2024-03-13 15:03
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 18
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 20m
AI Summaries: 18/18 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu information hour addressed a sharp and emotional topic: the potential participation of the Estonian Defence Forces in military activities in Ukraine, and Prime Minister Kaja Kallas’s personal responsibility and readiness to remain in Estonia in the event of a war threat. Riigikogu member Varro Vooglaid presented the Prime Minister with three specific questions, demanding a clear "yes" or "no" answer, accusing the responses received the previous week of being demagogic evasion. Vooglaid wanted to know whether Estonia has sent active duty personnel or reservists to Ukraine to carry out tasks related to military activities; whether the Prime Minister would promise that the Defence Forces would not intervene in military activities in Ukraine, thereby avoiding war with Russia; and whether the Prime Minister promises not to evacuate should the war reach Estonia.
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas responded that a mandate from the Riigikogu is required to send soldiers outside of Estonia. She refused to promise that the Defence Forces would not intervene in Ukraine, emphasizing that circumstances might change and that Estonia has clearly sided with Ukraine, doing everything possible for Russia to lose. Regarding the question of evacuation, Kallas initially confirmed that she had no plans to evacuate, and later, responding to a clarifying question from Mart Helme, she gave a clear promise: "Yes, I will remain in Estonia if I am the Prime Minister and war should start here." However, the most tension was caused by Kallas’s answer to the question of whether she could confirm that no active duty personnel or reservists sent by the Republic of Estonia are participating in Ukraine. Kallas answered this directly: "I cannot confirm." Vooglaid and Helme sharply criticized Kallas’s policy as leading Estonia onto a catastrophic course, while the chair of the session defended the Prime Minister, finding that the answers were sufficiently specific and relevant to the topic.
Decisions Made 1
Given that this was the Riigikogu's Question Time, during which interpellations were submitted to members of the government, no official decisions (such as the adoption of bills or resolutions) were taken.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Varro Vooglaid, a member of the Riigikogu. He initiated the topic and repeatedly posed clarifying questions, demanding concrete answers from the Prime Minister. Vooglaid represents an opposition stance that strongly criticizes the government’s foreign policy, accusing the Prime Minister of demagoguery and leading Estonia into the danger of war. He sought guarantees that the Estonian state has not sent and will not send its active-duty personnel or reservists into military action, and that the Prime Minister will not leave the country during a crisis.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Riigikogu member Varro Vooglaid submitted his fifth question to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas concerning the participation of the Defence Forces in the war in Ukraine.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid presented three specific questions demanding yes-or-no answers regarding the potential participation of the Estonian Defence Forces in Ukraine, avoiding getting drawn into war, and the matter of staying or evacuating should war break out, asking for simple, non-demagogic replies.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kallas confirmed that sending soldiers abroad requires a mandate from the Riigikogu, and that Estonia is helping Ukraine militarily, diplomatically, and economically through sanctions, the isolation of Russia, and the establishment of an international tribunal, all to ensure the war does not reach Estonia. She also stated that she does not plan to evacuate, noting that she is always present during crises and is increasing readiness against cyberattacks.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks [the previous speaker] and invites Varro Vooglaid to ask a clarifying question.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid posed three questions to the Prime Minister: he requested a clear promise not to evacuate and to remain in Estonia should war reach the country; he inquired about the Estonian Defence Forces' involvement in Ukraine (including the training of active servicemen or reservists, intelligence, and logistics) and whether these activities have already occurred or are being planned; and he demanded confirmation that the Estonian Defence Forces will not go to war in Ukraine, arguing that Russia's actions against Estonia do not depend on the steps we take.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kallas emphasized that in order to ensure peace, we must not be so polite that nothing gets done; instead, we must adhere to a strong peace strategy and NATO enlargement. She added that the use of the Defense Forces in Ukraine requires a mandate from the Riigikogu (Parliament), as Ukraine has not currently requested this, and the topic is not presently on the agenda.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman offered his thanks, informed [the audience/assembly] about the supplementary question, and invited Mart Helme to respond.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme accuses the coalition of leading Estonia onto an economic and foreign policy catastrophe course, and demands a concrete promise that he will remain with the Estonian people even if Stenbock House is wiped off the face of the earth. He makes reference to missions carried out using a blank check and the coalition's readiness to lead the country into war, highlighting the growing risk of the Ukrainian conflict and US intervention.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
This is a call to action, because now is your time.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme stresses that the necessary level of resistance must be shown against a Russian attack; otherwise, our men will be taken away along with their weapons to fight a war somewhere else, leaving us defenseless.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Kaja Kallas confirmed that Estonia will continue helping Ukraine for as long as necessary, and the war will only end when Russia realizes that it cannot win and returns to its borders.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman concludes the handling of today's fifth item. Before the discussion of the sixth item begins, Varro Vooglaid has his hand raised and is asking about the procedure for conducting the session.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid expressed dissatisfaction that within two weeks he has not been given answers to his specific questions, including whether the Estonian Defence Forces will not be sent to war with Russia in Ukraine, whether Estonia will remain in Estonia in the event of war, and whether no Estonians are participating in Ukraine.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar stated that the responses were very clear ('Yes, I am staying'; 'Cannot confirm'; 'No, I will not give'). The presiding officer does not intervene in questions as long as the topic is maintained, and Kaja Kallas remained focused on the topic of the defense forces' involvement in the war in Ukraine. Consequently, due to these procedural discussions, the opportunity for future Riigikogu members to ask questions will be reduced, also citing the procedure used by Kert Kingo to conduct the sitting.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo is asking whether Kaja Kallas replied "Yes, I am staying," and whether that signifies her intent to remain in the office of prime minister or to remain with the Estonian people, since she has not clearly stated under which circumstances she intends to stay.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar noted that Kaja Kallas had responded to Mart Helme’s question with very specific and sufficient answers, and that Kaja Kallas’s initial response was also clear and adequate. He finally added that Varro Vooglaid had requested to ask a question concerning the procedure for conducting the sitting.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She explains what staying on topic means in his/her interpretation, and provides an example where someone asks what time it is, then examines whether answering maintains the topic or leaves the question unanswered.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar stated that an answer regarding the Defence Forces' participation in the war in Ukraine has already been provided by Kaja Kallas, and if that answer is unsatisfactory, it is possible to submit a new question; the presiding officer must not intervene or turn into a dentist who extracts answers from the mouths of ministers, as this is neither the presiding officer's duty nor is it stipulated by the law on internal and working procedures.