- Title: Increase defence spending and tax Russia to rebuild Ukraine, Estonia says
- Date: 16th December 2024
- Summary: TALLINN, ESTONIA (DECEMBER 16, 2024) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ESTONIAN PRIME MINISTER, KRISTEN MICHAL, GIVING INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) ESTONIAN PRIME MINISTER, KRISTEN MICHAL, SAYING: "Let's say, talking from the Estonian experience, for us, the message that Europe, as the wealthiest region probably all around the world, has to spend more on defence and security is a message well understood, and we are also acting accordingly because that's why probably Estonia is the top three spender on defence." MICHAL GIVING INTERVIEW MICHAL'S HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ESTONIAN PRIME MINISTER, KRISTEN MICHAL, SAYING: "Everybody probably in NATO and the EU right now has the common knowledge, common sense and the feeling in backbone that you should increase defence expenditure because of what is happening right now all over the world and with Russia. We will see what kind of outcome after the negotiations there will be, but my recommendation would be that NATO's two percent (of GDP) recommended level should be 2.5 (percent)." MICHAL SPEAKING IN INTERVIEW MICHAL SEEN IN CAMERA VIEWFINDER (SOUNDBITE) (English) ESTONIAN PRIME MINISTER, KRISTEN MICHAL, SAYING: "I would say that the main goal should be having a just and lasting peace (in Ukraine) because the first rule of this kind of negotiations or talk or making plans should be nothing of Ukraine without Ukraine, nothing of Europe without Europe, and I would say that part of having a just and lasting peace probably would be strengthening Ukraine, that Russia would be forced to negotiate, and also taking away Russia's capability in the future to make this kind of attacks or even wanting to do this kind of attack." MICHAL SITTING FOR INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) ESTONIAN PRIME MINISTER, KRISTEN MICHAL, SAYING: "Russia has frozen assets, about 250-300 billions (euros) worth right now. That probably could cover, let's say half of it, needed to rebuild Ukraine. Other half probably would be taxating (taxing) Russia's goods in Europe or all over the world, so this kind of actions and this kind of concrete plans probably would take away Russia's willingness and also cash possibilities to have this kind of hybrid attacks or hybrid activity all over the globe." VARIOUS OF MICHEL SPEAKING IN INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) ESTONIAN PRIME MINISTER, KRISTEN MICHAL, SAYING: "That (not taking away Russia's ability to attack other countries) probably would be like a sore and stigmatic outcome for everybody in Europe and all the states because to have a just and lasting peace is probably the only way that the rule-based world, in which I see Europe and the United States are the greatest allies, that probably would be the only outcome that would work because if you are not able to change Russia's ways - changing borders by force, using hybrid activities in the Baltics, Nordics, in Europe, or in the States, influencing elections and so on - then everything of this would continue." MICHAL SPEAKING IN INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) ESTONIAN PRIME MINISTER, KRISTEN MICHAL, SAYING: "Yes, I would say yes. Ukraine is part of Europe, it should be a member of NATO." VARIOUS OF TALLINN SKYLINE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT VIEWING POINT OVER CITY MONUMENT AND CHURCH AT FREEDOM SQUARE ESTONIAN FLAGS FLYING EXTERIOR OF RUSSIAN EMBASSY VARIOUS OF BANNERS OUTSIDE EMBASSY READING (English): "YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE" AND "STOP WAR" RUSSIAN FLAG FLYING POLICE CAR PARKED NEAR EMBASSY VARIOUS OF POLICE CARS IN CITY CENTRE NEAR JOINT EXPEDITIONARY FORCE (JEF) SUMMIT VENUE FLAGS OF COUNTRIES ATTENDING MEETING FLYING
- Embargoed: 30th December 2024 13:18
- Keywords: Estonian Prime Minister Joint Expeditionary Force Kristen Michal NATO spending target Russian assets Russian invasion of Ukraine Ukraine NATO membership
- Location: TALLINN, ESTONIA
- City: TALLINN, ESTONIA
- Country: Estonia
- Topics: Defence,Europe,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001742716122024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Estonia will propose that the leaders of the United Kingdom-led alliance of northern European NATO countries spend no less than 2.5% of GDP on defence in response to the threat from Russia, Prime Minister Kristen Michal said on Monday (December 16).
Only 23 of the 32 NATO members are on track to hit the NATO target of a minimum 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defence spending.
Estonia has doubled its defence spending since the start of the nearly three-year-old war in Ukraine, up to 3.2% of GDP in 2024.
Michal said "everybody" in NATO and the EU had the feeling that defence spending needed to be increased "because of what is happening all over the world and with Russia".
Michal hosts the heads of the alliance, called the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) in Tallinn this week, and will focus discussions on Russia's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers, which he described as an "an environmental disaster waiting to happen".
Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump has said he would like to end the war in Ukraine quickly without revealing details of how he planned to do this and Michal said it was important to ensure lasting peace.
He proposed using 200 to 300 billion euros of Russia’s frozen assets abroad to rebuild Ukraine, and imposing additional taxes on Russian goods to raise up to 300 billion euros more.
That would bring lasting peace, Michal said, because Russia would be unable to continue hostilities, including so-called hybrid attacks, and Ukraine's military resources should also be strengthened.
"Ukraine is part of Europe, it should be a member of NATO," Michal added.
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