But I mean, looking at Germany from your perspective or from other allies' perspectives, there are worrying trends, aren't there? If you look at the parties that are rising in the polls that want less support for Ukraine, what does that mean for Baltic security if parties that do not want to continue support for Ukraine are leading the polls in Germany?

Well, the worrying trend is that Russia is still growing to be more aggressive.

And this is the worrying trend.

And obviously that means also that they are trying to influence and impact our societies in our countries through the elections through the social media campaigns through the different activities what they are doing so there was an attack to Estonian defense industry company there was an attack in Leipzig so you see that you know they are using different layers to impact us and our societies for us what we need to do first When we can attribute something to the Russian services, we need to do that.

We need to bring it open and public.

And secondly, we need to be very open with our societies and to show that, hey, this is what you are reading from the social media or how Russia is manipulating with the society.

And when you look at the warnings that are coming out of Poland, but also other countries, that an attack on NATO territory is not completely something that we can write off, that is likely, say some people, what is your assessment?

Well, first of all, I always been on opinion that we need to have, let's say, the right answer, the right response and very well balanced response because, you know, We don't want to give also to Russia any possibility or any option to say that, hey, you started the war.

You are no longer the defense minister because of a scandal, as I understand it, involving procurements of weaponry for Ukraine.

Well, I will not say the scandal.

It's a very simple question because we were helping Ukrainians to procure ammunition for them.

And unfortunately, one of the companies didn't deliver what they promised.

So they had a prepayment.

They delivered.

Well, this company has not disappeared.

What would a victory for Ukraine look like and how could Europe deliver that?

Mm-hmm

... rifle gun, uh, for the military comes from the LMT factory, uh, Iowa.

Uh, we are buying the HIMARS, so, uh, we are considering at the moment, uh, and making the market survey of the ballistic, uh, missile defense and, and ballistic mi- missile defense.

One of the options is also Patriot.

As we all know, it's very successful, uh, in Ukraine.

So America, uh, or United States of, uh, of America is, is not off the map.

So let's be very, very clear and, and, uh, and, uh, direct here that, uh, we have a very good cooperation.

Is there a particular reason why South Korean kit has become so popular among European militaries?

What can you tell us about, uh, this agreement, and what is it means for Ukraine?

Well, drone deal is, uh, a very important contract for both of our countries, so it's for Ukraine, for Estonia because, uh, on one hand, uh, we still continue helping Ukraine with at least point twenty-five percent, uh, of our GDPs.

And, uh, from our, uh, uh, point of view, it's important that we are now able to, uh, get access, uh, to different, uh, Ukrainian, uh, capabilities.

Uh, also, uh, we say that we will buy the Ukrainian inventory.

So, uh, uh, we will still be in, uh, in negotiations that what we will buy, uh, but, uh, this is very important for the joint production, that Estonian and Ukrainian companies who are already doing joint production, that, uh, they can start product, uh, pro-production also in Estonia.

So many different, uh, details in that contract, uh, but I believe that it's mutually bene- very, very beneficial.

Is it true?

Uh, there will be a new rotation, uh, very soon.

How worried are you about America's medium, let alone long-term commitment to European security?

We have to go back in history and then throughout the summits we've heard from the American leaders that Europe has to take more responsibility, so it's not news.

And, uh, more strongly we've heard that in last year or half, there was a clear commitment made in The Hague that we will invest more into defense, that, uh, there is a 5% agreement which at least 3.5 has to go to the core defense spending.

So, it has been on the table for a long time.

So we've been serious here in Estonia, uh, also about that.

We've been telling that, uh, even longer that Europe needs to invest more into its own defense.

And, uh, we are doing that.

But then when you returned, I gather you were unclear about what they wanted you or other European allies to do on that front.

The message they heard, the Trump administration is trying to focus on the Indo-Pacific, not Europe.

We clearly understand, uh, the administration message that they will focus more on the, on, uh, the INDOPAC.

So, this is not a news, uh, and, uh, that also probably means that there will be a reduction of forces, uh, in Europe.This is also fine.

I believe that Europeans have to take more responsibility and, and we are doing that.

We can defend ourselves now but there's a big risk in three, five, seven years from now without the extra spending.

Uh, when we take the plans, uh, approved by the Russian government and we see that they are wrapping up their defense industry, they are also, uh, increasing their troops, number of troops so they will go up to 1.5 million troops.

Uh, they will bring to our neighborhood two to nine times more equipment.

Uh, it consists from, uh, the attack helicopters, armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, tanks, uh, et cetera.

Do you feel reassured by what you've heard so far?

Well, I believe that, you know, one thing we all, as Europeans, uh, committed is that we will do more.

And, you know, Estonia will do 5.4 only on ha- hard defense.

When we add on top of that also this 1.5, I would say that we will go to 7% with defense spendings.

But nevertheless, I believe that, you know, the, the US delegation, it's not only President Trump, also Secretary Rubio and Secretary Hecht, so they got this confirmation from the Europeans that we will do more, we will step up, we will do more also on the industry level.

This was something they came for, uh, coming to Europe.

And, uh, I believe that, you know, that, that this, you know, shakiness between the, uh, Europe and, and US, um, is now gone.

You think that President Trump is a watchdog of democracy? I mean, that's something that a lot of his former allies don't necessarily believe anymore.