Ratas affirmed Estonia’s strong support to Ukraine

The President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas, meeting the delegation of the Ukrainian parliament today, promised that Estonia would continue supporting Ukraine in every way possible, both by advocating for stronger sanctions and by providing consistent military and humanitarian aid.

Ratas said that Ukraine needed rapid and specific assistance mainly in the form of weaponry, but also on the economic and political front. “Estonia is making every effort to support the government and people of Ukraine. We support the providing of military and humanitarian aid and the toughening of sanctions, but this is not nearly enough – we also need to work even harder to involve our partners and allies. Each and every one of us needs to do more until Ukraine has won this war,” he urged.

Specific proposals on how Estonia could help Ukraine even more were discussed during the meeting. Possible support in reconstructing the country after the war was also discussed.

The delegation of the Ukrainian parliament met with Prime Minister Kaja Kallas this morning. The delegation is also meeting the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu today, and the Estonia-Ukraine Parliamentary Group on Thursday.

The members of the delegation will attend the additional sitting of the Riigikogu on Thursday, scheduled to start 30 minutes after the end of the regular sitting which starts at 10 a.m. The head of the Ukrainian delegation Olena Šuliak will address the Riigikogu during the additional sitting. This will be followed by a vote on the Statement of the Riigikogu “War Crimes and Genocide of the Russian Federation in Ukraine” (584 AE), initiated by 84 Members of the Riigikogu.

15 minutes after the end of the additional sitting, the representatives of the Ukrainian parliament will hold a press conference in the Conference Hall of the Riigikogu.

The delegation of the Ukrainian parliament will also meet the President Alar Karis, Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Taavi Aas, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Eva-Maria Liimets. The Ukrainian MPs will visit the refugee reception centre on Niine Street in Tallinn, and meet Estonian NGOs who have been extremely active in helping Ukrainian refugees.

Photos of the meeting (Author: Erik Peinar, Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Source: Parliament of Estonia