Estonian Defense Minister Calls for Direct Investment in Ukraine’s Arms Production

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur has called for increased investment in Ukraine’s defense industry during his remarks at the Halifax International Security Forum, The Hill reported on November 25.

Ukraine needs investments into its military production industry, not foreign troops to fight against Russia, said Estonian DM.

Pevkur emphasized the need for a renewed push to fund Ukraine’s domestic military production, highlighting its remarkable capacity.

“Ukrainians produce six to seven times more howitzers annually than countries like France,” Pevkur stated.

“Ukraine’s industry is significantly ramping up production. It can produce about $30 billion worth of military equipment per year but currently operates at half that capacity. That means there’s twice as much capacity in Ukrainian industry. So when you don’t have anything to give from your own stockpiles, give them money, it’s a simple message,” Pevkur added.

Estonian DM said Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk region was a missed opportunity to surge support for Kyiv.

“There was a huge momentum in this war during the Kursk counteroffensive, but that time, Ukrainians didn’t have enough equipment or enough firepower to push even further,” Pevkur explained.

Earlier, Lithuania pledged to fund the production of long-ranged Ukrainian drones.