Russian aggression is ‘a threat to Western civilisation’, top Estonian commander claims – as Brit troops prepare to defend his country
The leader of Estonia's paramilitary forces said the country would 'never again' be occupied like it was for 50 years under the Soviet Union
RUSSIAN aggression is a "threat to Western civilisation" and can only be deterred by NATO, the leader of Estonia's civilian resistance group claims.
Speaking exclusively with The Sun Online ahead of the arrival of a British contingent of troops to his country, commander Meelis Kiili reaffirmed NATO's importance on the world stage.
As commander of the Estonian Defence League he oversees 25,000 "highly motivated" volunteers determined to keep the country free from occupation.
They are trained in guerrilla warfare tactics that include fighting behind enemy lines, urban combat and construction of IEDs.
Brigadier General Kiili said: "The 1920 peace agreement with Soviet Russia, that didn't hold. We had 50 years occupation and we don't want it back, it is as simple as that. Russia is not just a threat to Estonia, it is a threat to Western civilisation."
Next week a contingent of British troops will arrive in the country to take part in NATO war games.
And in May, some 800 British infantry armed with fighting vehicles, UAVs and battle tanks will arrive in Estonia to help hold NATO's defensive positions.
He believes the NATO defence alliance will remain intact despite recent scepticism from the US and Donald Trump's administration.
"It is very important. It is as important for Estonia as it is for the US or Europe.
"Threat is capability and intent. Does Russia have capabilities? Certainly, they do. Yet I don't think they have the capability to struggle with Western civilisation.
"NATO responses to their behaviour reduces their intent so I don't see an immediate invasion of any kind to NATO.
"But I cannot also say it is not a threat. Of course it is a threat, as it is for the UK."
"We need to ask will NATO defend itself if attacked, yes it will. The solders will just be in Estonian uniforms. We will be the first to respond to that, and then the others will come.
"I believe (NATO) is still very, very, important today - as it was yesterday and it is going to be very relevant in the future as well. But it is not only for Estonia, NATO is an alliance."
Tensions with Russia are at their highest since the Second World War and massive NATO military exercises in the eastern member states are now underway.
He said: "A small nation like Estonia - 1.3 million - we need to use a comprehensive approach meaning that citizens who want to provide their services can do it.
"In times of war the units we prepare are included within the armed forces since we have our equipment and weapons with us.
"Estonia has the reserve base defence forces and we are the quickest to be called up and organised so we are a natural part of the state."
Brig-Gen Kiili's role in the independence of his country means he has been personally placed on a Kremlin list of individuals sanctioned by Russia.
The cornerstone of NATO's 28 country alliance is that an attack on one signifies an attack on all.
Estonia, as well as a swathe of other eastern European countries bordering Russia, are members - a fact that rankles with Putin who considers them within Russia's historical sphere of influence.
During his campaign for election Donald Trump claimed that he may withdraw US support for allied countries if they do not contribute enough money to the alliance.
Brig-Gen Kiili added: "Trump never said that NATO is obsolete, he said that he is fully committed to NATO.
"What he has stressed is the principles of the funding of NATO, but that's nothing new.
"In Estonia we believe that we've done our share and our volunteers they are not paid, so you can add that contribution on top of the two percent that goes from our GDP."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368.