Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Estonian President Alar Karis have agreed to work on cheaper ways to shoot down drones that have flown over Estonia, including one that a NATO fighter jet shot down over the south of the country in May.

Zelenskyy arrived in Estonia today to attend a summit of Nordic and Baltic leaders, a visit that comes amid friction over Ukrainian drones straying into the region in recent months.

The drones have crashed into the chimney of a power plant in Estonia, hit empty fuel tanks in Latvia and been shot down by Romanian fighter jets stationed in Lithuania. Ukrainian officials apologized, saying that the drones had been aimed at military targets inside Russia but were sent off course by Russian electronic interference.

Estonia is hosting the summit in its capital, Tallinn. The country holds the rotating presidency of the NB8, a regional grouping of the five Nordic countries and the three Baltic states. It brought together the bloc’s Prime Ministers, along with Zelenskyy.

At a joint news conference in Tallinn, Karis said, “We have shown that we can shoot the drones down with the planes.” However, he noted that using fighter jets to shoot down the drones is very expensive so he hopes to partner with Ukraine for its technology and expertise to do so more cheaply.

Zelenskyy said that Ukraine was ready to do so, drawing on experience it had built up helping countries in the Middle East shoot down drones, where it had sent expert teams to train local forces. “We did this in the Middle East, and it worked,” he said.

He said that Ukraine could offer the low-cost interceptor drones it has deployed at home to build an inexpensive shield against Russian drone attacks, and that Kyiv could send expert teams to its European partners “at any moment.”

Karis said that he expects drones to cross into Baltic airspace as the war continues and urged the public to remain calm. Estonia and the other Baltic states are among Ukraine’s staunchest supporters in its war against Russia.

The Estonian leader said the Baltic country supports Ukraine’s bids to join the EU and NATO. He also called for stronger sanctions on Russia.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also traveled to Tallinn, where he met his Estonian counterpart, Margus Tsahkna. Tsahkna disclosed that the two discussed Ukraine’s security, pressure on Russia, and Kyiv’s bid to join the European Union.

Tsahkna noted on X that Estonia “will continue to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes,” adding that as Russian President Vladimir Putin “intensifies his attacks and shows no sign of abandoning his imperial ambitions, our responsibility is to increase pressure, not offer concessions.”

Zelenskyy Hails Cooperation With Nordic And Baltic States

In his statement at the joint press conference with the President of Estonia, Zelenskyy hailed cooperation with Nordic and Baltic States.

“Today, we have a special format of cooperation. It is a format that, in my view, is always very effective – Ukraine and the Nordic Baltic States. States that have always stood with us in a very principled, very substantive, and very friendly way. Thank you for your unwavering, strong support throughout all the years of this war for our independence and yours.

“I thank Estonia and you personally for organizing our work here today: we held our bilateral meeting with Estonia, and we have already begun our conversation with Finland, Latvia, and Sweden. Further bilateral meetings with other Summit participants will follow, as well as our joint work – all NB8 countries and Ukraine.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy

He noted that the main thing that is very important is to prepare for the negotiations and decisions “that we all expect from the summits at the European Union, G7, and NATO levels,” adding that “June and July this year may determine a lot.”

Also, he said that strong political decisions by the European Union “that can and should be made already this summer” are very much expected. He said that Ukraine has done everything necessary to open six clusters in the negotiations on its future membership, and it is now, at the upcoming European Union meetings, that decisions on this should be made.

He added that there are “no obstacles” and it is important that this progress is made – that the clusters are opened – and that the Russians also see that Europe keeps its promises and does not give up its interests. “I ask you to continue supporting sanctions and introducing new relevant packages,” he said, adding, “The European Union’s 21st sanctions package is needed.”