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| William visiting UK troops on Estonia–Russia border | William visiting UK troops on Estonia–Russia border |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| The Prince of Wales is showing support for UK troops guarding Nato's border with Russia, with a two-day visit to Estonia. | The Prince of Wales is showing support for UK troops guarding Nato's border with Russia, with a two-day visit to Estonia. |
| The visit began on Thursday with a meeting with Estonia's President, Alar Karis, in Tallinn, followed by a visit to a school teaching refugees from the war in Ukraine. | |
| Prince William will see soldiers training in the Baltic state as part of a multinational force intended to deter Russian aggression on Nato's eastern flank. | Prince William will see soldiers training in the Baltic state as part of a multinational force intended to deter Russian aggression on Nato's eastern flank. |
| The 900 UK troops in Estonia include soldiers from the Mercian Regiment, of which Prince William is colonel-in-chief. This is currently the British Army's biggest operational deployment overseas. | |
| The visit comes amid uncertainty over the war in Ukraine and worries about Russia's next steps. | The visit comes amid uncertainty over the war in Ukraine and worries about Russia's next steps. |
| Earlier this week, Estonia was one of the countries on Russia's borders to withdraw from a treaty banning anti-personnel landmines - a sign of rising tensions. | Earlier this week, Estonia was one of the countries on Russia's borders to withdraw from a treaty banning anti-personnel landmines - a sign of rising tensions. |
| Its navy has been trying to prevent sabotage of undersea cables. | Its navy has been trying to prevent sabotage of undersea cables. |
| And the country is planning to increase military spending to 5% of its gross domestic product (GDP). | And the country is planning to increase military spending to 5% of its gross domestic product (GDP). |
| William received a warm welcome from schoolchildren in Tallinn | |
| Prince William's visit to this small, high-tech country is another moment of royal soft power, sending a message about the UK's commitment to defending the Baltic states. | Prince William's visit to this small, high-tech country is another moment of royal soft power, sending a message about the UK's commitment to defending the Baltic states. |
| It follows a visit a few months ago by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. | It follows a visit a few months ago by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. |
| And talking to students and staff at the University of Tallinn, the royal visit seems to be warmly welcomed. | And talking to students and staff at the University of Tallinn, the royal visit seems to be warmly welcomed. |
| It is seen as a sign of support from Western allies for a country, with a population of only 1.3 million, keenly aware of its need for military assistance. | It is seen as a sign of support from Western allies for a country, with a population of only 1.3 million, keenly aware of its need for military assistance. |
| The threat from Russia seems very real from their perspective. | The threat from Russia seems very real from their perspective. |
| "We're more or less preparing for war," Catlyn Kirna, a senior lecturer specialising in cyber-security, says. | "We're more or less preparing for war," Catlyn Kirna, a senior lecturer specialising in cyber-security, says. |
| Growing concern | Growing concern |
| There is already a constant wave of cyber attacks and misinformation from Russia, which will keep "testing the water" to see how Nato responds. | |
| And as a former part of the Soviet empire, Estonia looks at the current situation in Ukraine with growing concern. | And as a former part of the Soviet empire, Estonia looks at the current situation in Ukraine with growing concern. |
| "If Ukraine falls, we will have to fight for our lives," Catlyn says. | "If Ukraine falls, we will have to fight for our lives," Catlyn says. |
| And with an 18-year-old son, it feels like a very personal worry. | And with an 18-year-old son, it feels like a very personal worry. |
| The view from Eastern Europe, on Nato's front line, gives a much sharper perspective on issues around Russian expansionism, Catlyn says. | The view from Eastern Europe, on Nato's front line, gives a much sharper perspective on issues around Russian expansionism, Catlyn says. |
| "In western Europe, it might be bad news," she says. | "In western Europe, it might be bad news," she says. |
| "For us, it's the end of the world." | "For us, it's the end of the world." |
| Catlyn Kirna says the threat from Russia seems very real from Estonia's perspective | Catlyn Kirna says the threat from Russia seems very real from Estonia's perspective |
| Political science student Julija Raudkivi says: "[US] President Trump's comments and behaviour created anxiety for many Estonians. | |
| "We talk about it a lot," she says, concerned by Trump's apparent lack of enthusiasm for the Nato alliance. | "We talk about it a lot," she says, concerned by Trump's apparent lack of enthusiasm for the Nato alliance. |
| "There's definitely some underlying anxiety about the threat posed by Russia. | "There's definitely some underlying anxiety about the threat posed by Russia. |
| "It's the proximity, we're so close." | "It's the proximity, we're so close." |
| Julija backs the push for more spending on arms and the strengthening of Nato forces. | Julija backs the push for more spending on arms and the strengthening of Nato forces. |
| Since Russia's attack on Ukraine, she says: "It makes you feel like war is just behind the door." | Since Russia's attack on Ukraine, she says: "It makes you feel like war is just behind the door." |
| Liberal-arts student Sharon Kaasik says young people have grown up hearing stories about the Soviet regime before Estonia's independence in 1991 and there are worries about the past returning. | Liberal-arts student Sharon Kaasik says young people have grown up hearing stories about the Soviet regime before Estonia's independence in 1991 and there are worries about the past returning. |
| Tallinn University student Sharon Kaasik trusts in the Nato alliance | Tallinn University student Sharon Kaasik trusts in the Nato alliance |
| But she trusts in the military alliances and wants European countries to work more closely together. | But she trusts in the military alliances and wants European countries to work more closely together. |
| Arts and music student Sander Poldmaa, 21, wants to defend his country and volunteers in Estonia's defence forces. | Arts and music student Sander Poldmaa, 21, wants to defend his country and volunteers in Estonia's defence forces. |
| "We're a small country and Russia is right beside us," he says. | "We're a small country and Russia is right beside us," he says. |
| And he is unsettled by Trump's behaviour. | |
| 'Defend ourselves' | 'Defend ourselves' |
| Sander wants Nato to be stronger but says it is about deterrence. | Sander wants Nato to be stronger but says it is about deterrence. |
| "The main point for me is that I don't want the war to happen," he says. | "The main point for me is that I don't want the war to happen," he says. |
| "But we need the ability to defend ourselves. | "But we need the ability to defend ourselves. |
| "The horror of people in the front line in Ukraine, I wouldn't want that for anyone." | "The horror of people in the front line in Ukraine, I wouldn't want that for anyone." |
| Estonia has given more aid to Ukraine, as a proportion of GDP, than any other country, four times as much in relative terms as the UK. | Estonia has given more aid to Ukraine, as a proportion of GDP, than any other country, four times as much in relative terms as the UK. |
| In the cold Spring sunshine in Tallinn, it is a reflection of how close the threat feels. | In the cold Spring sunshine in Tallinn, it is a reflection of how close the threat feels. |
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