Contents tagged with NATO

  • Estonia and Finland plan to close Gulf of Finland to Russian ships

    Tallinn and Helsinki are intensifying their cooperation in maritime defense, focusing on developing specific plans to completely shut off the Baltic Sea to Russian ships if necessary, reports Helsingin Sanomat, citing Estonian Defense Forces Commander Major General Andrus Merilo.

    "Military cooperation between Finland and Estonia is increasingly centered on naval defense, and the goal is to come up with concrete plans on how the neighboring countries can close the Gulf of Finland to Russian …

  • Zelensky calls for immediate international action to prevent prolonged war with Russia

    In a stark warning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the critical importance of swift action to prevent the ongoing war with Russia from dragging on for years, or even decades.

    Speaking at the Golden Plate Award ceremony in the United States on September 23, Zelensky highlighted that the upcoming few months are pivotal for Ukraine in the conflict with Russia. He stressed that Ukraine has limited time to achieve significant results on the battlefield and avoid a prolonged war. …

  • Ukraine calls on Romania to intercept incoming Russian drones

    Ukraine has made an urgent request to Romania to intercept and take down any Russian kamikaze drones headed towards its territory. This appeal was made during the recent visit of Ukraine's new Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, to Bucharest.

    According to Agerpres, Sybiha urged Romanian officials to consider the possibility of shooting down Russian drones near their airspace.

    "Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated on Wednesday in Bucharest that he is calling on Romanian partners to …

  • Finland to host two NATO headquarters as Sweden prepares to lead Advanced Land Forces

    Finland is planning to establish two NATO headquarters within its borders, reports Yle, citing tentative plans that have yet to be approved.

    The proposed NATO Land Command HQ for Northern Europe is expected to be situated in the city of Mikkeli, where both Finnish and foreign officers will operate. Additionally, the advanced NATO Land Forces HQ is anticipated to be located in northern Finland, potentially in Sodankylä or Rovaniemi.

    Defense ministers from Sweden and Finland have announced that …

  • New NATO military base launched in Southern Estonia near Russian border

    Television and radio broadcaster ERR has reported the inauguration of a new military base, Reedo, in southern Estonia. The facility, located in the village of Juba near the town of Võru, consists of 14 buildings and can accommodate up to one thousand personnel.

    According to ERR, the base will serve as a "rallying point for preparations in line with NATO's defensive plans." The site is strategically positioned just tens of kilometers from the Russian and Latvian borders, underscoring its …

  • Zelensky pushes for NATO invitation from Biden before 2024 elections in the US

    According to the French publication, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky aims to secure an invitation to NATO before Joe Biden's current term ends. Zelensky, in declaring his victory plan against Russia, envisions Ukraine’s NATO entry before the U.S. presidential elections on November 5, reports Le Monde.

    According to Zelensky, obtaining such an endorsement would position Ukraine to negotiate the war's end with Russia from a place of strength. The Ukrainian leader announced that he has a …

  • Estonia signals readiness to preemptively strike Russia to defend NATO

    During an interview with the Estonian public broadcaster ERR, Estonian General Vahur Karus has stated that Estonia is ready to strike Russian territory if Moscow shows signs of preparing for an attack on NATO.

    "Our capability to neutralize the enemy on its own territory is crucial," General Karus emphasized, pointing to a new strategy where waiting to be attacked first is no longer an option.

    Before the full-scale war in Ukraine, Estonia's strategy was to hold off any Russian aggression for 10 …

  • Lithuania calls on NATO to shoot down Russian drones in Baltic airspace

    Lithuania has provided a definitive answer to the question of whether NATO forces should shoot down Russian UAVs over the Baltic States.

    Defense Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas is convinced that the Alliance needs to down Russian drones that encroach on EU territories.

    NATO's air surveillance mission algorithm over the Baltic countries should be altered: Russian drones entering the airspaces of Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia must be shot down, said Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas …

  • Estonian Defense Minister calls for clear goals in Western support for Ukraine

    Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur has voiced concerns that the lack of a clear political objective regarding Western support for Ukraine is a fundamental issue. Pevkur made these comments during the GLOBSEC conference in Prague, as reported by Evropeyska Pravda.

    Addressing debates on Western "strategic ambiguity" towards aiding Ukraine, Pevkur noted that while Western partners pledge to give Ukraine "the help it needs" for "as long as necessary," they intentionally avoid specifying their …

  • Finland to station up to 5,000 NATO troops near Russian border

    In a strategic move to bolster its defense capabilities against external threats, Finland has agreed to station a NATO armored brigade on its soil. The new unit, consisting of 4,000 to 5,000 soldiers and officers, is being formed and will be based in the city of Mikkeli, near the Russian border, reports the Finnish news outlet Iltalehti, citing sources within the North Atlantic Alliance and security services.

    "Finland's Defense Forces and the government have concluded that the presence of NATO …