Estonia supports Ukraine: We know the devastation of Russian imperialism

By Kaja Kallas

The New Statesman, 8. Dec. 2022

“Whenever I receive guests in Tallinn as Estonia’s prime minister, I show them a room in my office where portraits line the walls. These depict the Estonian heads of government before the Second World War, known as the elders of state. I ask my guests to look at the dates of their deaths; all, except one who managed to flee, lost their lives at the hands of Soviet occupants in the 1940s or died in Soviet captivity. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine did not come as a surprise to Estonia, but we did not believe it would so closely replay those old atrocities.”

—

“The past year made the face of Russian war crimes and Russian occupation visible to the whole world. Estonia, like half of Europe after the Second World War, knows what it means to lose everything. We lost our territory, freedom and a fifth of our population to Soviet terror. What is so shocking is that the extent of the war crimes, systematic mass killings, deportations and torture in Ukraine today is a repetition of the Kremlin’s atrocities in the past. So much for pledges of “never again”. …”

https://www.newstatesman.com/world/europe/2022/12/estonia-support-ukraine-russian-imperialism

Don’t Be Afraid of a Russian Collapse

By Kristi Raik 

Foreign Policy

“Several Western leaders have been showing fear of a Ukrainian victory in the ongoing war against Russia—a prospect that many have found hard to get across their lips. The result is a series of equivocating statements that tiptoe around the issue of the endgame of the war. … French President Emmanuel Macron, who has missed no opportunity to announce his desire to negotiate with Putin, has even suggested that any end to the Kremlin’s genocidal war must not humiliate the Russian leader.”

—

“The Baltic states and Poland do not fear any real or imagined escalation as much as a Russian victory. They have therefore provided Kyiv with as much military aid as they can, outpacing many other countries when measured relative to the size of their economies. And they have made their frustration with Western handwringing clear.”

—

“The Ukrainians’ courage and determination to defend their independence is a historic chance for the United States and Europe to deliver a decisive blow to Russian imperialism and toxic nationalism. But so far, the major Western powers hesitate to throw their weight behind this outcome. Ukraine, strongly supported by the Baltic countries and Poland, insists that Russia must be fought, isolated, and sanctioned until it completely withdraws from Ukraine, pays reparations for war damage, and delivers Russians accused of war crimes to face trial. This will be a long process requiring a change in Western thinking, but it is unavoidable if past mistakes of handling Russian aggression are to be corrected.”

https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/12/08/ukraine-russia-war-escalation-collapse-victory-baltic-poland-putin-imperialism/

No Peace on Putin’s Terms

Russia Must Be Pushed Out of Ukraine

By Kaja Kallas 

Foreign Affairs Magazine

“In the Baltic region, we remember the face of Russian occupation painfully well. Imperialism and colonialism are the Kremlin’s twin ideologies, and have been since long before February 24, 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia veils its hostile actions with claims to “liberate” people—people who have not asked for liberation. And the Kremlin attempts to justify its messianic zeal by reminding the world of the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany. What Russia always neglects to mention is that the Soviet Union, together with its then-ally Nazi Germany, started World War II.”

—

“Although the Soviet Union eventually collapsed, its imperialist ideology did not. In Estonia, our history books were rewritten after the end of Soviet rule, but the same did not happen in Russia. Although Nazi crimes have been unequivocally condemned and tried before tribunals, Communist crimes have not. Russia has never truly had to come to terms with its brutal past or bear the consequences of its actions. We had the Tokyo and Nuremberg tribunals, but there was never a Moscow tribunal. Instead, Russian President Vladimir Putin has revived Stalinism—so effectively, in fact, that in 2019, 70% of Russians approved of Stalin and his policies, according to a Levada Center poll. If people admire one dictator, there is no moral obstacle to submitting to another one. If people’s minds and eyes are shut to old atrocities, there are no limits to committing new ones. This helps to explain the brutal crimes of Russian soldiers in Ukraine.”

https://reader.foreignaffairs.com/2022/12/08/no-peace-on-putins-terms/content.html

Estonia has managed to influence Western Europe's Russia opinion

By Joosep Värk

ERR

“Nearly one year ago, Russia issued a list of demands that included NATO essentially withdrawing from Eastern Europe. One year later, Eastern Europe is more influential in the West than ever before, as Russia's war atrocities in Ukraine virtually proved us to be psychics. Behind the country's successful action have been the chance to act quickly and the courage to speak frankly.”

Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Reform) has at several European Councils taken the initiative and outdebated hitherto dominant powers.”

—

“Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu's (Isamaa) ardent action has continued to ratchet up the pressure on his own counterparts to increase their ambitions. "European countries have to provide a different angle of approach, a different paradigm to this supporting of Ukraine," Reinsalu said. "This current tempo is nowhere near sufficient.”

—

“All of this has been has been sorted out at the operational level by Estonian Ambassador to the EU Aivo Orav, who has spent hundreds of hours negotiating with his colleagues.”

—

"The political center of influence in Europe may have changed, and is no longer in Berlin and Paris, but also lies in Eastern and Central European Countries as well, including the Baltic countries, together with U.S. support," Lete said."

https://news.err.ee/1608811204/analyst-estonia-has-managed-to-influence-western-europe-s-russia-opinion

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Friday 9. December

Eesti presidendi jõulukaart kannab rahu ja hingesoojuse sõnumit

(Estonian World Review)

“Eesti Vabariigi Presidendi tänavuse jõulukaardi autor on Eesti Kunstiakadeemia tudeng Katariina Kesküla. Illustraatori valikuga soovib riigipea tuua esile ja innustada noorte kunstnike tööd.”

https://www.eesti.ca/eesti-presidendi-joulukaart-kannab-rahu-ja-hingesoojuse-sonumit/article59795

Lauluväljakul avatud valgusfest

(Postimees)

“Täna Tallinna Lauluväljakul avatud valgusfestivalil «Imedemaa» looritati elektrilampide rüüsse üle 500 muinasjututegelase ja skulptuuri. Kümned valgusansamblid muinasjutust «Alice Imedemaal» ja teistest fantaasiariikidest täidavad lauluväljaku kogu merepoolse osa.”

https://www.postimees.ee/7667346/fotod-ja-video-lauluvaljakul-avatud-valgusfestivalil-avaneb-toeline-imedemaa

Balti riigid suurendavad kaitsekulutusi kolme protsendini SKTst

(Postimees)

“Balti riigid lubasid reedel suurendada oma kaitsekulutusi kolme protsendini sisemajanduse koguproduktist (SKP), arvestades Venemaa sissetungist Ukrainasse tulenevaid julgeolekumuresid. … NATO hinnangul kulutavad Eesti, Läti ja Leedu praegu kaitsele vastavalt 2,34, 2,10 ja 2,36 protsenti SKTst.”

https://majandus.postimees.ee/7667316/balti-riigid-suurendavad-kaitsekulutusi-kolme-protsendini-sktst

USA suurendab kohalolekut Eestis

(Postimees)

“USA saadab Eestisse jalaväekompanii ja HIMARSi mitmikraketiheitjaga üksuse, samuti vastava juhtimisvarustuse ja -süsteemid. Üksused osalevad koos Eesti kaitseväega ühistel õppustel, et suurendada koostegevusvõimet, ja on valmis vajaduse korral Eestit kaitsma.”

—

“Jalaväekompanii läheb 2. brigaadi koosseisu ja paikneb Võrus. HIMARSid lähevad Tapale ja jäävad diviisi vahendiks. Aga kui räägime nende mitmikraketiheitjate puhul tulejuhtimisest, väekaitsest, toetusest, siis kindlasti teevad nendega koostööd kõik brigaadid, maakaitse, toetuse väejuhatus. Nii et näha saab neid üle Eesti. Järgmise aasta jooksul päris kindlasti, sealhulgas õppusel Kevadtorm,” rääkis Herem pressikonverentsil. Kuna Eestisse tulevad USA üksused, mis on osa diviisi lahinguplaanist, usub Herem, et siia diviisistaapi määravad ameeriklased ka mõned staabiohvitserid.”

https://www.postimees.ee/7666453/usa-suurendab-kohalolekut-eestis

Arvamus: “USA väed Tapal on suur abijõud. Mõtegi mingist rünnakust Peterburile on jabur.” - Postimees

Estonia purchases six HIMARS rocket launcher systems from the US

(Estonian World | AP | ABCNews | Janes)

“In addition to the weapon system, Estonia will also procure ammunition, communications equipment, training, logistics and life-cycle support. The package includes rockets with different effects, ranging from 70 to 300km.”

—

“Latvia and Lithuania are also procuring HIMARS.”

https://estonianworld.com/security/estonia-purchases-six-himars-rocket-launcher-systems-from-the-us/

—

https://apnews.com/article/nato-europe-business-estonia-lockheed-martin-corp-4a0a7ac40ec0234e6cde5e00c6249a4e

—

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/estonia-buy-us-rocket-artillery-system-200m-deal-94392406

—

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/weapons-headlines/latest/estonia-orders-himars

“HIMARS is expected to provide critical firepower to Estonia’s defensive posture.” - Army Technology

“Estonia establishes a division within its defence forces.” - Estonian World

“US to deploy a platoon of HIMARS artillery rocket systems to Estonia.” - Reuters

“US to deploy more troops to Estonia to boost NATO defenses.” - ABCNews

“While deployed to Estonia, the U.S. units will train together with the Estonian Defense Forces in order to increase interoperability.” - ERR

Allies and Partners Execute Multi-National Vigilance Activity Over the Baltic States

(NATO)

“This activity was a fantastic opportunity to train combined air operations with our future Allies and a clear confirmation that the Swedish Air Force is fully interoperable and ready to integrate into the NATO air domain.”

—

“Finland and Sweden flew from home base locations, making use of air-to-air re-fueling essential for mission success.”

https://ac.nato.int/archive/2022/VA-Baltics

How Estonia is helping Ukraine take on Russian cyber threats

(Politico)

“Ukraine has surprised the world with its ability to fend off major cyberattacks from Russia. And one small country — Estonia — has played an outsized role in helping them do so.”

—

“The nation of just over 1 million, which has fought off cyberattacks inside its borders from Russia for years, is now leading many of the efforts to provide cyber threat intelligence, funding and critical international connections to protect Ukraine from Russian hackers.”

—

“In interviews in Tallinn, Estonian officials provided fresh details about how they aid cybersecurity workers in a besieged Ukraine and coordinate with more powerful allies in Europe and the U.S. in the global effort to defend against Russia’s digital attacks.”

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/12/07/estonia-ukraine-cybersecurity-russian-hackers-00072925

“Estonia completes cyber lab to enhance Ukrainian Armed Forces' resilience.” - ERR

“Estonia sends 11 buses with generators, energy equipment to Ukraine.” - Ukrinform

Estonia's naked truths: Let off steam in a ‘smoke sauna’ near the Latvian border

(The Daily Mail)

[A British journalist visits Eesti.]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/escape/article-11512163/Estonias-naked-truths-Let-steam-smoke-sauna-warm-capital-Baltic-beauty.html

Thursday 8. December

Interview with Estonia’s former President Kersti Kaljulaid

(TRT World, Istanbul, Turkey

“The InnerView travels to Tallinn to speak with Estonia’s former President Kersti Kaljulaid, a woman expected to be a frontrunner for next NATO Secretary-General. Kaljulaid tells Imran Garda her country is doing all it can to support Ukraine and says she has faith that Estonia’s NATO allies will rally to support it if attacked by Russia.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHvbWwQd-8g

Ameeriklaste lisaväed ja -relvastus suurendavad kindlustunnet siinses piirkonnas

(Postimees)

“USA saadab Eestisse jalaväekompanii ja HIMARSi mitmikraketiheitjaga üksuse. … Eesti suutlikkus liitlasi siin võõrustada hakkab jõudma piirini. … Küsimus pole ainult Baltimaade ja Poola, vaid Läänemere piirkonna julgeolekus laiemalt.”

—

“Ameeriklaste otsus saata Eestisse lisavägesid ja -relvastust tugevdab kahtlema siinse piirkonna julgeolekut, kandes esmaselt küll poliitilist tähendust.”

https://arvamus.postimees.ee/7666430/juhtkiri-ameeriklaste-lisavaed-ja-relvastus-suurendavad-kindlustunnet-siinses-piirkonnas

Finland prepared to accept Ukrainian war refugees from Estonia

(Baltic Times)

"We are definitely not talking about the forced redistribution of refugees. Within the cooperation between the two countries, we will offer Ukrainian war refugees arriving here in the future the opportunity to move on to Finland, where there is currently more capacity to receive and help refugees. This is a voluntary decision of every Ukrainian -- we will not forcibly drive anyone away from here," Interior Minister Lauri Laanemets wrote on social media.”

—

“To date, Estonia has offered temporary protection to almost 41,000 Ukrainian war refugees.”

https://www.baltictimes.com/finland_prepared_to_accept_ukrainian_war_refugees_from_estonia/

“Estonia must prepare for possible new wave of Ukraine refugees.” - ERR

Wednesday 7. December

Russia's war and 'imperialistic dreams' can't pay off, says Estonia's Kaja Kallas

(Euronews)

“The Ukraine war cannot lead to Russia becoming richer and should instead end in punishment, Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has said. "The message that we have to say loud and clear is that aggression cannot pay off.”

—

"If you attack a sovereign country, then you are not leaving with more territories or more resources, but you are punished for this because we have agreed in the international rules-based order that it's illegal to attack another country."

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/12/06/russias-war-and-imperialistic-dreams-cant-pay-off-says-estonias-kaja-kallas

—

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4IwhNT_VtQ

“Russia has grossly miscalculated and mismanaged this war. - Ambassador Kristjan Prikk.” - Gov Matters

Kaja Kallas: Ranked #5 in listing of the most influential people in Europe

(Politico Europe | Estonian World)

“Ursula von der Leyen didn’t name any names when she said, “We should have listened to those who know Putin.” But the European Commission president likely had Kaja Kallas in mind.”

—

“Few European leaders have been as forceful, articulate and consistent as the Estonian prime minister in laying out the threats posed by the authoritarian in the Kremlin. And at a time when Western European countries are rethinking their Russia strategy, the brutal invasion of Ukraine has vindicated Estonia’s approach to Moscow.”

https://www.politico.eu/politico-28-class-of-2023/

—

https://estonianworld.com/security/politico-picks-estonias-kaja-kallas-as-one-of-the-most-influential-people-in-europe/

—

https://www.politico.eu/list/politico-28-class-of-2023/kaja-kallas/

Latvia Hosted Russian Journalists in Exile. Then Their Loyalties Were Questioned.

(New York Times | AP)

“A news host’s comment about helping troops prompted the Latvian authorities to revoke the license of TV Rain, a major independent outlet, putting a focus on the public role of Russians who fled.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/06/world/europe/ukraine-russia-war-latvia-tv-rain-journalism.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

—

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-estonia-latvia-c610cf39f7056ee23643aa9d30987f49

“Latvia Revokes Exiled Russian Station’s License Over War Coverage Violations.” - The Moscow Times

“TV Rain, which is known as Dozhd in Russian, has been accused of showing content that supports Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.” - BBC

“Dozhd Controversy In Latvia Inflames Tensions Over Émigré Anti-War Russians.” - RFERL

NATO’s Policies for 2022 and Beyond: Human Security and Changing Threats

(Lawfare)

“Many of the alliance’s values and operations as reflected in the 2022 Strategic Concept have, unsurprisingly, remained constant since 2010. For example, both Strategic Concepts convey the allies’ shared commitment to the principles of individual liberty, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The alliance’s three “core tasks” also remain essentially unchanged. In 2010, the alliance defined its core tasks as collective defense, crisis management, and cooperative security. In 2022, NATO describes three core tasks of the alliance in slightly different, yet fundamentally similar terms: “deterrence and defence; crisis prevention and management; and cooperative security.” Although the 2022 Strategic Concept adds “deterrence” to the first task, this change is more additive than substantive considering that NATO has always been focused on deterrence. Finally, NATO’s focus on improving interoperability and cooperation among the allies remains a common line of effort.”

https://www.lawfareblog.com/human-security-and-changing-threats-natos-policies-2022-and-beyond

Turkey says Finland must end arms embargo to join NATO

(Yle | AP)

“Finland must publicly declare that it’s lifting an arms embargo on Turkey to win Ankara’s approval for its membership to NATO, the Turkish foreign minister said Tuesday. Mevlut Cavusoglu made the comments ahead of visit by Finland’s Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen, who will be discussing his nation’s bid to join the military alliance with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar on Thursday.”

https://yle.fi/a/74-20007450

—

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-nato-turkey-sweden-ankara-0fd482cc397ecf80559d50457dbb64dc

Finnish Independence Day: Galas, Protests & War Memories

(Yle)

“Yle News highlights the ball and all of its glamour, but also moves back in time to shine a light into the dim recesses of Finnish history, examining the genesis of the Independence Day celebrations and highlighting vignettes from the past that have come to define how Finns see themselves as a people today.”

https://yle.fi/a/3-7671639

—

https://yle.fi/a/74-20007448

Tuesday 6. December

Hinnatõus Eestis jätkuvalt kõrge

(Estonian World Review)

“Tahkekütus tõusis 110,9 %, kodudesse jõudnud elekter 72,6 % soojusenergia 62,3 protsenti ja gaas 18,9 % kallim," ütles Statistikaameti juhtivanalüütik Viktoria Trasanov. Möödunud aasta novembriga võrreldes on toidukaupadest enim ehk 104,2 % kallinenud suhkur. Jahu ja tangained on kallinenud 74,9 %, munad 59,6 % muud õlid 53,7 % ning kastmed 52,6 %.”

https://www.eesti.ca/hinnatous-eestis-jatkuvalt-korge/article59790

Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) plans to establish 15 additional radar positions in Ida-Viru County

(ERR)

“At present, around 70 percent of the Narva River border is covered by surveillance equipment. However, the PPA considers this insufficient as it does not provide border guards with a full overview of the area. … The installation of separate drone detection and counter-drone systems is also planned.”

https://news.err.ee/1608810694/ppa-wants-former-narva-tank-site-for-new-drone-surveillance-system

“Russian forces stationed east of Estonia significantly weakened by the war.” - TVP World

- Putin’s War -

Ukraine Brought the War to Russia

(The Daily Beast)

“… right to Putin’s doorstep.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/second-day-of-drone-attacks-means-invasion-of-ukraine-is-now-a-war-in-russia

“Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory would signal unexpected shift in tactics.” - Politico Europe

“The Engels-2 and Dyagilevo airbases house aircraft believed responsible for attacking Ukrainian infrastructure.” - The Guardian

“Ukraine Keeps Winning The War Against Russia.” - 19fortyfive

“Why Ukraine's recent strikes on Russian air bases could signal a turning point in the war.” - Meduza

“Only 100 metres apart’: Ukrainians and Russians face off in Donetsk.” - The Guardian

Ukraine appears to expose Russian air defence gaps with long-range strikes

(Reuters)

“A third Russian airfield was set ablaze on Tuesday by a drone strike, a day after Ukraine demonstrated an apparent new ability to penetrate hundreds of kilometres into Russian air space with attacks on two bases. Officials in the Russian city of Kursk, around 90 km (60 miles) north of the Ukraine border, released pictures of black smoke above an airfield in Tuesday's early hours after the latest strike. The governor said an oil storage tank had gone up in flames, but there were no casualties.”

—

“On Monday, Russia said it had been hit hundreds of kilometres from Ukraine by what it said were Soviet-era drones - at Engels air base, home to Russia's strategic bomber fleet, and in Ryazan, a few hours' drive from Moscow.”

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-warns-emergency-blackouts-after-more-missile-hits-2022-12-05/

“What Ukraine’s Drone Strike Deep in Russian Territory Means.” - Slate

“Explosion at Nuclear Airbase Just 150 Miles From Moscow Opens Stunning New Phase of War” - The Daily Beast

“Nuclear-Capable Bombers Likely Damaged.” - The Moscow Times

“Drone attack hits oil storage tank at airfield in Russia’s Kursk region.” - The Guardian

“Ukraine leader defiant as drone strikes hit Russia again.” - AP

Ukraine insists it can retake Crimea

(Grid)

“The official position of the Ukrainian government is clear: Its forces will continue fighting until they have recaptured all of Ukraine’s internationally recognized territory. That is, not just the areas Russian forces have captured since their February invasion, but all the territory they have occupied since 2014. This includes the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow formally recognized as its own after staging a hasty and flawed referendum eight years ago. …”

https://www.grid.news/story/global/2022/12/02/the-crimea-question-why-ukraines-final-battle-might-be-the-western-alliances-toughest-test/

“Prospect of Ukraine joining NATO remains the third rail of international politics.” - Politico Europe 

Russians Fleeing Because of Putin’s War Now Outnumber Those who Fled Bolshevik Revolution

Paul Goble

“… the actual impact of the new emigration is even greater still because the total population of the country under Moscow’s control is lower.”

http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2022/12/russians-fleeing-because-of-putins-war.html

“Putin says Russia’s war in Ukraine could be ‘long-term process’.” - The Guardian

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment:

7. And 8. of December

(ISW)

“The risk of Russian nuclear escalation is low.”

—

“The Kremlin directly responded to Russian rumors of a second wave of mobilization in an apparent effort to manage growing societal concern and recentralize information about the war with the Russian government and its authorized outlets, but there are several indicators that Russia still intends to conduct a second wave of mobilization."

—

“The Kremlin seems to be departing from the limited war messaging it has been using to reduce concerns among the general Russian public about the war, likely in an effort to condition the public for future mobilization waves.”

—

“The Kremlin’s deliberately inconsistent messaging is part of a persistent information operation intended to mislead the West into pushing Kyiv to negotiate and to offer preemptive concessions.”

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-december-6

Putin’s Warriors

How the Kremlin Has Co-opted Its Critics and Militarized the Home Front

(Foreign Affairs)

“Rather than making the regime more vulnerable, as some Western observers have suggested, the setbacks in the war in Ukraine over the past few months have offered Putin an opportunity to expand his hold over Russian society, and even over his military critics. … The generals now have a decisive say in the Russian economy.”

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/russian-federation/putin-warriors

Rumor: Putin Is Preparing to Flee When Russia Implodes, Ex-Aide Claims

(The Daily Beast)

“The leader’s entourage has not ruled out that he will lose the war, be stripped of power, and have to urgently evacuate somewhere.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/vladimir-putin-is-preparing-to-flee-to-venezuela-when-russia-implodes-ex-aide-abbas-gallyamov-says

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