“I thanked President Biden for the US presence on NATO's eastern flank and stressed the importance of ensuring this presence in the long term. As an ally, Estonia is committed to ensuring its defence and security. As of this year, our defence expenditures have exceeded 3% of GDP, and I urge other allies to increase their investments in defence,” said Kallas.
Support for Ukraine was discussed in more detail. According to Kallas, Estonia is convinced that Ukraine must and can win this war with unwavering political and military support of the free world. “Putin needs to feel it in his wallet and on the battlefield,” Kallas said. “Halting Russian aggression in Ukraine is crucial for the future of freedom and democracy worldwide. I commended the US and President Biden personally for their significant support to Ukraine,” the Prime Minister added.
Kallas expressed hope that the US Congress will soon agree on a new aid package for Ukraine. “European Union countries are increasingly understanding the stakes and seeking out-of-the-box solutions. We have made courageous decisions to support Ukraine and are exploring additional ways to assist them. I am pleased that Estonia's commitment to allocate 0.25% of GDP to military aid for Ukraine over the next four years is gaining more traction among other countries. If all countries supporting Ukraine followed suit, it would greatly contribute to Ukraine's victory,” Kallas summarised up her message after the meeting.
In their conversation, the Estonian Prime Minister and the US President also discussed NATO's 75th-anniversary summit, scheduled to take place in Washington in July.
The conversation took place at the annual Gridiron Club Dinner, where Kallas participated as the guest of honour.
Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBi3p6
