U.S. sets 2027 deadline for Europe-led NATO defense
Reuters
“The United States wants Europe to take over the majority of NATO's conventional defense capabilities, from intelligence to missiles, by 2027, Pentagon officials told diplomats in Washington this week.”
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“Several European officials said that a 2027 deadline was not realistic no matter how Washington measures progress, since Europe needs more than money and political will to replace certain U.S. capabilities in the short term.”
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“The European Union has set a target of making the continent ready to defend itself by 2030 and says it must fill gaps in its air defenses, drones, cyber warfare capabilities, munitions and other areas. Officials and analysts said even that deadline is highly ambitious.”
“Pentagon: 2027. aastaks peab Euroopa tagama suure osa NATO võimetest.”
Eesti Ekspress
“National Security Strategy of the United States of America, November 2025.”
The White House
“Foreign Minister Tsahkna at NATO: Threat from Russia to the Alliance will persist.”
Välisministeerium
Ukraine: ’I've never seen the frontline like this before.’
By Caolan Robertson
Independent Ukrainian Journalist
“The front line is shifting faster than at any point in the last two years. In November, Russia took more ground in Ukraine than at any time since 2022 … Pokrovsk is surrounded. Seversk is being invaded. Konstantinivka is under assault. Druzhkivka is being bombarded. Kramatorsk is taking more hits than usual. The whole region feels more volatile than ever.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq2RTlhvqbc
“Ilma läbimurdeta rahuläbirääkimistel püsib olukord rindel Ukraina jaoks raskena.”
ERR
“As Russia Closes In on Pokrovsk, Ukraine Fights to Buy Time.”
The Moscow Times
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Kui te ei saa aru käsklusest ‘Pikali!’ saate te surma
Erkki Koort
Postimees Arvamus
“Eesti ühiskonnas kerkis sellel nädala debatt, kas edaspidi saab ajateenistusse võtta riigikeelt halvasti oskavaid noori. Ideel on nii positiivseid kui ka negatiivseid külgi, aga kui piirdume ainult selle muudatusega, lõikame endale sõrme …”
https://arvamus.postimees.ee/8374203/erkki-koort-kui-te-ei-saa-aru-kasklusest-pikali-saate-te-surma
How the ‘NarvaNews’ Portal Amplifies Russian Propaganda
Insight News
“Narvanews.com publishes in Russian and targets Narva’s and Estonia’s Russian‑speaking population.”
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"NarvaNews has rapidly positioned itself as a local Russian-language portal, but behind its fast growth lies a systematic effort to shape narratives aligned with Russian geopolitical interests. This investigation examines how NarvaNews operates, why it resonates with Russian-speaking audiences, and how its coverage reinforces Russian propaganda in Estonia.”
https://insightnews.media/how-narvanews-amplifies-russian-propaganda-in-estonias-information-space/
Women are reviving traditional Seto culture in Estonia
The Independent
“On a trip through the Setomaa region, Yvette Cook immerses herself in an inspiring sisterhood of locals who are keeping ancient traditions alive through song, food and sauna rituals.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/estonia/seto-culture-festival-estonia-b2877081.html
12 Songs for Eesti Laul 2026 have been released
Eurovision
“Eesti Laul 2026 will be used to select the Estonian artist and song for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna. Listen to the songs here.”
https://eurovisionworld.com/esc/estonia-songs-for-eesti-laul-2026-released
Tallinn Airport to double its passenger capacity by 2030
ERR | Estonian World
“Largest investment in Tallinn Airport's history … In total, the reconstruction will add around 16,500 square meters of new space to the existing facility, while more than 18,000 square meters of the existing terminal will also be rebuilt, bringing a total terminal area of 52,500 square meters at a cost of €75 million. The airport's baggage area, both for check-in and reclaim, will be made more spacious, a parking lot between the tram and passenger terminals is to be built on, and the border control and gate areas will be expanded.”
https://news.err.ee/1609874859/tallinn-airport-to-get-substantial-75-million-expansion
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https://estonianworld.com/business/tallinn-airport-begins-e75m-upgrade-as-traveller-numbers-surge/
Estonia's ERR faces challenges
By Valner Väino
LRT
“Protests erupted in Lithuania after the government moved to undermine public broadcasting independence. ERR’s Erik Roose says Estonia faces similar pressure.”
Tallinn: Europe’s most underrated Christmas destination
The Independent
“The capital of Estonia is complete with a Christmas market, plenty of history, and incredible food.”
Bringing Religion to Tallinn
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
“Estonia is … ripe for evangelism and harvest, and the small but united Christian community is seeking to reach their country with the power of the Gospel. More than 600 people volunteered to serve at the Time of Hope Celebration, with 1,800 attending counselor training classes. Almost 9,000 attended the two-day event.”
https://billygraham.org/decision-magazine/articles/bringing-hope-to-tallinn-estonia
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“Lithuanisation of Estonian politics.”
By Tõnis Saarts , Baltic Times
“Eesti ja Riia vahele võib jääda ilma Euroopa rööpmelaiuseta Rail Balticu lõik.”
ERR
“Estonian scientists continue to contribute to Arctic and Antarctic studies.”
Välisministeerium
“Kaitsevööndi punkrite paigaldamine lükkus ligi aasta edasi.”
ERR
“Europe’s biggest rare earths factory is in Narva.”
CNBC
“Interview: Dr Kristina Kallas, Minister of Education and Research for Estonia.”
Teacher Magazine, Australia
“Suurte relvade spetsialistid tähistasid püha Barbara päeva kõuekõminaga.”
Virumaa Teataja
“Estonia Is Writing Its Own Playbook to Build a Defense Industry.”
Bloomberg [subscription]
“Riigikogu ei kutsu aasta viimasele istungile enam jõuluvana.”
ERR
“British Army tank regiment soldiers train with drones in Estonia.”
Army Recognition
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Around the Baltic Sea
The week Europe realised it stands alone against Russian expansionism
The Guardian
“Kaja Kallas, the European Union foreign policy chief, asked her officials this week to dig up the number of times Russia had – in its various guises – invaded other states in the 20th and 21st centuries. The answer was 19 states, on 33 occasions. Kallas, the former Estonian prime minister, was not just indulging in some form of historical mathematics. She was seeking to make a point that lies at the heart of the dispute between the U.S. and Europe over Ukraine’s future, a dispute that has again revealed the chasm across the Atlantic about the true nature of the Russian regime.”
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“Steve Witkoff, the New York property developer currently representing the U.S. on the world stage – but also coaching Russia on how to win over Donald Trump– has admitted he knows little history, telling the Atlantic in May that he had been watching some Netflix documentaries to rectify this.”
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“But based on Witkoff’s four visits to Moscow, he largely treats Russia like any other country, and Vladimir Putin like any other world leader. He told Tucker Carlson he was certain that Russia would not want to take further territory in Europe once Putin was given four regions of Ukraine. “I think there’s this sort of notion of: ‘We’ve all got to be like Winston Churchill – the Russians are gonna march across Europe’ – I think that’s preposterous,” he said.”
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“Witkoff added: “I don’t regard Putin as a bad guy.”
The U.S. president’s push to end the Ukraine war raises fears of an 'ugly deal' for Europe
Reuters
“Europe fears the prospect of a deal – sooner or later – that will not punish or weaken Russia as its leaders had hoped, placing the continent’s security in greater jeopardy. Europe may have to accept a growing economic partnership between Washington, its traditional protector in the NATO alliance, and Moscow, which most European governments - and NATO itself - say is the greatest threat to European security.”
“France and Germany warn US could 'betray' Ukraine in push for peace.”
France24
“We Must Not Leave Ukraine and Volodymyr Alone with These Guys.”
Spiegel
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“Finland joins other Nordics, UK under Nato's Norfolk command.”
Yle
“Swedish youths with foreign-born parents least positive about military service.”
Radio Sweden
“Half of Europeans see high risk of war with Russia.”
Deutsche Welle
“Ukraina Lapsed õpivad liiga palju palveid ja matusekombeid.”
Postimees
“Sweden is in the final stages of a defense deal in which they will buy four frigates.”
Radio Sweden
“Rising levels of hate forcing women out of Swedish public life.”
The Guardian
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Putin’s Forever War
Stop wasting the world’s time
The Guardian
“Ukrainian, British and Estonian officials chastise the Kremlin for apparently fruitless peace talks in Moscow.”
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“Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, has demanded Vladimir Putin “stop wasting the world’s time” while UK foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, said the Russian president “should end the bluster and the bloodshed” and sit down to negotiate peace. Margus Tsahkna, the Estonian foreign minister, said it was “pretty obvious” that the Kremlin was not interested in peace as European leaders reacted to fruitless talks in Moscow between US envoys and Putin.”
Ukraine should not attack Russian ships in the Baltic Sea
Liga
“Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsakhkna believes … that this would lead to an environmental disaster.”
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"More than 60% of Russia's gas and oil exports go through the Gulf of Finland, and this is still a huge burden that falls on a corridor about six nautical miles wide. We did not say 'don't come here', but it would be wiser not to, because it could really lead to an escalation of the situation in the Baltic Sea," said Tsakhkna.”
Ukraine’s Recruiting Ads
New York Times
“Wherever you go in Ukraine, army recruitment ads are impossible to miss. They loom from skyscraper billboards, plaster street corners and hang from highway bridges. The ads are the work of individual units that recruit volunteers, rather than rely on conscription. The first ones appeared in the spring of 2023, and brigades have rolled out new ad campaigns every few months. …”
“How Ukrainians have used memes to counter Russia’s propaganda machine.”
Novaya Gazeta
Russian Government Labels Performance Art Group As Extremist Organization
MS NOW
[Interview with Nadya Tolokonnikova, artist, activist and founding member of Russian dissident activism group Pussy Riot, about what it means that the Putin administration has declared her a member of an "extremist" organization,]
https://youtu.be/qnT-5-ekuYw?si=UwbLxyH9RrdfoJtw
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