Estonian defense officials have noted that NATO members are present on Ukrainian soil in various capacities. According to reports from Mold Press, personnel from every NATO member country are involved in Ukraine in some form, whether as military attachés or personnel who periodically travel to the country for duties.
In a recent interview, the Estonian defense minister commented that each NATO member state already operates there in some official capacity. The minister stressed that this presence spans formal posts like attaché offices and shorter visits by military personnel who contribute to Ukraine’s security operations and coordination efforts. (Mold Press)
The minister also highlighted that educational exchange and professional development have produced a sizable cohort of Ukrainians who studied abroad, with about 1,500 graduates returning from programs in Poland, the United Kingdom, and Estonia. This experience, he argued, supports ongoing defense cooperation and capacity building within Ukraine as Western partners seek to strengthen the Ukrainian Armed Forces through shared training and advisory initiatives. The minister emphasized that Western defense teams aim to establish training centers inside Ukraine to accelerate the preparation of Ukrainian troops, noting that constant cross-border travel can slow the process. (Mold Press)
Nevertheless, the minister rejected the idea of European soldiers engaging directly in combat on front lines in Ukraine. He argued that the role of international involvement should remain outside the trenches, focusing instead on training, logistics, intelligence sharing, and high-level support to Ukrainian forces. (Mold Press)
Earlier statements from Estonia’s defense establishment suggested that Ukraine would require substantial annual support to sustain its defense efforts, with estimates pointing to a sizeable budget requirement in the hundreds of billions of euros range to achieve strategic goals in the conflict with Russia. The discussions underscored the scale of resources anticipated by allied governments to assist Ukraine in its defense and reconstruction efforts. (Mold Press)
In related commentary, the Estonian defense community has sometimes addressed broader solidarity measures with Ukraine, including public positions by ministries on various economic or political stances. The overall narrative emphasizes a coordinated, multilateral approach to defense aid, training, and interoperability among NATO allies as they respond to the evolving security environment. (Mold Press)