Edward Lucas
Gloom, but not doom. That was the defiant message on Ukraine from this year’s Lennart Meri Conference in the Estonian capital, Tallinn. The annual security-policy shindig, named after the country’s revered first president, was notably glummer this year than last. Ukraine is suffering not only battlefield setbacks but devastating attacks on its heating and power networks. These harm the economy now and will be hard, if not impossible, to repair before winter bites.
All the more reason, therefore, to boost military aid: more weapons, of greater lethality, delivered faster. Estonia’s prime minister, Kaja Kallas, featured prominently at the conference. She noted that her country has already committed 0.25% of GDP to Ukrainian military aid for the next three years. “If all countries would do the same, it would lead to Ukrainian victory,” she said. “Ukraine is fighting, losing lives—the only thing they ask of us is reallocation of resources.”
Speaking by video link, Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, praised Estonia as a “paragon” for its stance and help. But participants’ criticism of other countries was scorching. Only strikes deep into Russian territory will prevent the continuing assault by glide bombs, launched from high altitudes 50 miles from the front line.
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