Ukrainian ally Kallas seeks re-election in Estonia

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Estonia, the European country that supplies Ukraine with the most weapons relative to its economic weight, is set to hold an election on Sunday to determine whether it can maintain that level of support.

Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, 45, is seeking a second term. He became one of Ukraine’s staunchest supporters and his prestige grew with his international calls for sanctions against Moscow.

A Baltic country of 1.3 million people, bordering Russia to the east, Estonia gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and followed a pro-Western path with NATO membership and to the European Union.

Polls show a majority of votes in favor of Kallas’ centre-right Reform Party. His main challenger is Martin Helme of the nationalist EKRE party, who blames Kallas for the 18.6% inflation rate, one of the highest in Europe, and accuses him of undermining defense by delivering weapons to the army. ‘Ukraine.

Kallas argues that aid to Kyiv is in the country’s interest.

The invasion of Ukraine raised fears in Tallinn that the victory would embolden Moscow to turn its attention to other countries it controlled during the Soviet era, in particular the three Baltic countries – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – which are now members of NATO. .

“We are facing (parliamentary) elections at a very difficult time,” Kallas said in a recent speech. “The war (in Ukraine) continues and affects all of Europe, even the whole world. I don’t know when the war will end… but I know it won’t end with a victory for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin.”