By Gabriel Ani
Stenbock House, January 11, 2024 – Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, in a meeting with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reiterated Estonia’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s resilience and quest for victory in the face of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression.
“We believe in Ukraine’s journey towards becoming a member of the European Union and NATO, guided by liberal democracy and a free-market economy,” Prime Minister Kallas asserted. She highlighted the historic decision made by the European Union in December to open accession negotiations with Ukraine, emphasizing that Estonia stands firmly behind its Eastern European neighbor.
Recognizing the bravery and ongoing challenges faced by Ukraine, Kallas stressed the importance of continued support. “Estonia stands with Ukraine – we are here to help with our experience. I also promise to continue being a strong advocate for Ukraine at the European Council table,” she affirmed.
Kallas acknowledged the forthcoming NATO Washington Summit and expressed Estonia’s dedication to working towards bringing Ukraine closer to NATO membership. “For Ukraine to turn its bravery into victory, the support of the free world must continue. We must support Ukraine as long as it is needed and as much as necessary for Ukraine’s victory,” Kallas emphasized.
Anticipating potential attempts by Russia to undermine global unity in supporting Ukraine, Kallas asserted the strength of the free world. “The combined military, economic, and political power of the free world can ensure Ukraine’s victory over Russian aggression. The stronger Ukraine is, the faster the breaking point arrives for Russia,” she asserted.
Estonia’s commitment to aiding Ukraine includes substantial military assistance, with an additional 80 million euros allocated and a long-term commitment of 0.25% of Estonia’s GDP over the next four years. Kallas urged other nations to follow suit, envisioning a united effort leading to Ukraine’s victory.
In addition to military support, Estonia pledged long-term assistance in the civil sphere, covering refugee support, reconstruction, and humanitarian aid until 2027. Kallas underscored the need to isolate Russia through sanctions and called for discussions on the EU’s 13th sanctions package. She urged a solution for using Russia’s frozen assets for Ukraine’s reconstruction and emphasized the importance of holding the Russian leadership accountable for international crimes.
While expressing a desire for peace, Kallas cautioned against falling into the trap of hopes for quick peace, as Russia may exploit it to regroup and intensify attacks. Estonia actively supports President Zelenskyy’s peace plan, focusing on territorial integrity and justice for Ukraine.
Estonia and Ukraine established diplomatic relations on January 4, 1992. The relations between the two countries have remained consistently close, largely due to shared concerns about any aspirations of the Russian Federation. Estonia is a member of the European Union, which Ukraine applied for in 2022.
In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Estonia has been one of the most vocal supporters of Ukraine. Estonia has imposed sanctions on Russia and has joined other countries in declaring a number of Russian diplomats Persona non grata. Estonia also introduced a ban on Russian language media channels.
Estonia has decided to allocate 0.25% of its GDP to support Ukraine for the next four years. If every member of the Ramstein group did the same, Ukraine could win the war within the next year or two.
Estonia is working with the European Commission on plans to seize Russian assets frozen in the European Union which are estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars.
Estonia actively supports President Zelenskyy’s peace plan, focusing on territorial integrity and justice for Ukraine. A memorandum of understanding on strengthening defense cooperation between Estonia and Ukraine was also signed during the meeting.
A memorandum of understanding on strengthening defense cooperation between Estonia and Ukraine was also signed during the meeting.
