Zelenskyy in Estonia for Nordic-Baltic summit amid drone tensions
13 reported
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Estonia on Tuesday to attend a summit of Nordic and Baltic leaders, a visit occurring amid friction over Ukrainian drones straying into the region in recent months. The drones have crashed into a power plant chimney in Estonia, hit empty fuel tanks in Latvia, and been shot down by Romanian fighter jets stationed in Lithuania. Ukrainian officials apologized, stating the drones were aimed at military targets inside Russia but were sent off course by Russian electronic interference. Zelenskyy and Estonian President Alar Karis agreed to work on cheaper ways to shoot down drones that have flown over Estonia, including one shot down by a NATO fighter jet in May. Karis said using fighter jets is expensive and hopes to partner with Ukraine for its technology and expertise. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready to help, drawing on experience from the Middle East, and could offer low-cost interceptor drones and expert teams. Meanwhile, Russia kept up strikes across Ukraine, with casualties reported in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, and both sides reported downing drones overnight.
What’s reported
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Estonia on Tuesday to attend a summit of Nordic and Baltic leaders.
The visit comes amid friction over Ukrainian drones straying into the region in recent months.
Drones have crashed into a power plant chimney in Estonia, hit empty fuel tanks in Latvia, and been shot down by Romanian fighter jets in Lithuania.
Ukrainian officials apologized, saying the drones were aimed at military targets inside Russia but were sent off course by Russian electronic interference.
Zelenskyy and Estonian President Alar Karis agreed to work on cheaper ways to shoot down drones that have flown over Estonia.
Karis said using fighter jets to shoot down drones is very expensive and hopes to partner with Ukraine for its technology and expertise.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready to help, drawing on experience from the Middle East, and could offer low-cost interceptor drones and expert teams.
In the Kharkiv region, three people were killed and 25 wounded in attacks over the past 24 hours, said Oleh Syniehubov.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, three people were wounded in overnight attacks, said Oleksandr Hanzha.
Russia launched 166 long-range strike drones and two guided missiles at Ukraine overnight; Ukraine said it shot down 146 drones.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said it downed 140 Ukrainian drones overnight; a woman was killed when a Ukrainian drone hit an apartment building in the Belgorod region.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna in Tallinn to discuss security, pressure on Russia, and Kyiv’s EU bid.
Zelenskyy said Monday he held positive talks with U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at an airport in Moldova, focused on ending the war.
Key figures
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President
Alar Karis, Estonian President
Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv regional administration
Oleksandr Hanzha, head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional administration
Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian Foreign Minister
Margus Tsahkna, Estonian Foreign Minister
Steve Witkoff, U.S. representative
Jared Kushner, U.S. representative
Sources: abcnews.com
