Signing of the agreement.
Signing of the agreement, by Özlem Canel, Ambassador of the Netherlands, Hanno Pevkur, Minister of Defence, Estonia, Else Berit Eikeland, Ambassador of Norway. To the right, Mariana Betsa, Ambassador of Ukraine. Foto: Estonian MoD

To improve the medical capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces, the governments of Estonia, the Netherlands, and Norway have agreed to donate to Ukraine a deployable Role 2 field hospital.

The field hospital will be provided by the Estonian Defence Forces. Norway and the Netherlands will contribute funds to make the field hospital available to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The trilateral cooperation will also include the procurement of container trucks and trailers, sanitary, storage and accommodation modules, and medical supplies for an upgrade of the Role 2 field hospital that will be donated to Ukraine. The training of the Ukrainian medical forces on the use of the field hospital will be conducted by Ukrainian and Estonian experts with the support of the Netherlands.

The package amounts to 7.8 million euros, out of which 4.3 million euros will be contributed by Norway and 3.5 million euros by the Netherlands.

“For 9 months, the Ukrainian people and armed forces have shown exceptional courage in the face of Russia’s aggression to restore the territorial integrity of their homeland. We are steadfast in our support for Ukraine and our objective remains the same – Ukraine must win this war and Russia must lose. Ukraine can win this war with our collective support. Instead of sowing division, the war is bringing allied and likeminded countries closer than ever and strengthening cooperation,” said the Estonian Minister of Defence, Hanno Pevkur.

“Recent successes on the battlefield prove that the Ukrainian strategy is working. Enduring international military support is crucial, especially now winter has arrived and Russia is continuing its attacks on civilian infrastructure. The fighting is far from over, we must stay the course. This is why we are continuing our support to Ukraine,” said the Minister of Defence of the Netherlands, Kajsa Ollongren.

“The field hospitals that have been already donated have been very useful and highly valued by the Ukrainian military forces. The Ukrainian authorities have requested Estonia to donate more hospitals. I am satisfied that Norway contributes to the third hospital donation from Estonia. It is important that the western countries stand together in sending urgent needed materiel and equipment to Ukraine”, said the Norwegian Minister of Defence, Bjørn Arild Gram.

 

Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAho4q