This is my first foreign visit as the head of Estonia's new government. My presence here symbolises also the support and belief the Estonian government and people have in Ukraine. During our recent elections, the people of Estonia gave my government a strong mandate to continue this support for Ukraine.
As you, President Zelenskyy, have rightly said, freedom must be armed better than tyranny. That’s our common motto. That’s why the number one focus are arms, ammunition and training – they all must continue at a scale sufficient for Ukraine to win the war.
This is also the reason why I suggested to the European Union to jointly procure 1 million artillery shells for Ukraine and send them directly to Ukraine. The decision was already made in March, and now we need to make sure it is properly executed. My government made the decision last week, during its first sitting, to send artillery ammunition to Ukraine. Hope it inspires others to act fast, too.
I am here with a message of firm belief – belief in your victory, belief in Ukraine that is a prosperous liberal democracy and a free market-economy belonging to the Euro-Atlantic community.
Your fight, loss and sacrifice have made it crystal clear – the way to lasting peace is to end grey areas in European security. We have seen throughout history how grey zones are a breeding ground for wars. NATO and EU enlargement have increased stability – my own country is a living example of it.
So, for peace in Europe, we need Ukraine in the European Union, we need Ukraine in NATO. This is also the message in the joint declaration we have just signed.
It is impressive what you have done on reforms during war time, and you have many friends on this road. Speaking from our own experience, it will be a hard process and the requirements need to be fulfilled 100%. We hope Ukraine can launch accession negotiations with the EU this year.
Dear Volodymyr,
I am very glad you invited me to Zhytomyr – this is the region where Estonia has been focusing its reconstruction efforts and serving as an example to others.
The first phase of the kindergarten we’re building in Ovrutch will be finalised by the 1st of June. Today I am glad to announce that Estonia will build a second part of the kindergarten for 80 more children. It goes hand in hand with sharing Estonia’s experience on quality child care. We are also supporting the reconstruction of a bridge in Malyn and participating in children’s home projects, including with the Olena Zelenska Foundation.
All the construction we do is not location-specific – the buildings are modelled in a way that partners can easily replicate them in other parts of Ukraine. We hope our model and know-how will inspire others.
And our efforts help to make you move closer to the EU – our joint projects are also implemented according to the EU standards.
Reconstruction combined with European integration and reforms is the perfect boost for your economy. Ukraine has the perspective to become one of the most successful counryes economies in Europe. EU requirements serve as a quality mark for foreign investors. Anti-corruption policies create trust that leads to economic growth. This has been our own experience, and I strongly believe it will also be Ukraine’s.
On accountability. There’s the fight for your freedom and there’s the fight for justice. You’ll need to win both. We are there to help. We are helping to ensure that there is no impunity, no immunity for Russia´s crimes, including for the crime of aggression.
Holding Russian leaders accountable for aggression, genocide and crimes against humanity gets at the purpose behind the war. It exposes Russia´s murders, rapes, deportations as instruments of the criminal policy of its regime and as an all-out assault on the Ukrainian people. And crimes without punishment will encourage and inspire new atrocities.
We have come a long way. Half a year most were not ready to publicly support the idea of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression. Now we are discussing it among leaders and we are discussing its legal modalities. A year ago it was thought unimaginable that Putin would be under an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court. Now we have reached this point too.
Dear Ukrainian friends,
You have my admiration for how your society and people have adapted to wartime. We admire your bravery, resilience and how you have survived the winter, kept economy going and electricity running. While fighting for freedom, you’re doing reforms. That’s a lot but you are showing the whole world that freedom is worth it.
Estonia remains at your side and supports you militarily, economically, politically – until your win the war.
Slava Ukraini!
