ESTONIA

Discussion in the Riigikogu focused on the Russian invasion of Ukraine

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

Today, an additional sitting was held in the Riigikogu where the security situation in Europe in light of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine was discussed as a matter of significant national importance on the proposal of the National Defence Committee.

At the beginning of his report, Minister of Defence Kalle Laanet discussed the current situation in Ukraine. He then spoke of how Estonia had helped Ukraine and concluded on how Estonia was protected.

Laanet recalled that Russia had started a war of aggression against Ukraine six days ago, on the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, at the same moment when the extraordinary session of the UN Security Council on the issue of Ukraine had started in New York. “This obviously not accidental coincidence in time is enough to prove that Putin’s regime disrespects international law and the order based on legal equality of states, but also that the organisation established to ensure global peace is powerless so long as Russia has a right of veto,” Minister of Defence said. In his words, since last December it had been evident that Russia was not relying on diplomacy, having issued completely unrealistic ultimatums instead of reasonable proposals. “Putin’s regime made preparations for aggression against Ukraine for years,” Laanet said.

Laanet listed the activities of the aggressor: the suppression and brainwashing of the people of Russia, the “integration” of Belarus and the saving of Lukashenka’s regime with brutal measures, the preparation for closing the Russian information space and even the construction of Nord Stream 2 to increase Europe’s gas dependence. “The whole political game was all about Vladimir Putin until the beginning of the war of aggression,” Laanet said. “Then Putin turned all of the free world against himself by starting a brutal full-scale war against the free Ukraine.”

In Laanet’s words, Russia was threatening with nuclear weapons to strengthen its political position. He added that that was the new reality, but just for the time being, because the coming weeks and months would evidently reveal much greater changes.

“Ukraine is fighting not just for itself, but for all of us, the whole free world,” Laanet said. In his words, Putin’s regime and his war machine are ever more definitely on a losing course. “We must uphold the established dynamics. Russia has issued threats to Finland and Sweden against their joining NATO. Finland and Sweden are not applying for NATO membership, but we are implementing the ‘enhanced communication’ together, which is necessary in the situation that has arisen,” Laanet said. In his words, this means additional meetings and exchange of information on intelligence as well as information operations and strategic communication.

As regards helping Ukraine, Laanet pointed out that Estonia had been one of the first European countries to decide as early as last December to also give military aid to Ukraine together with the US, the United Kingdom, Latvia and Lithuania. In his words, the first lot of Javelin anti-tank missiles supplied by Estonia had reached Ukraine on 18 February, before the outbreak of the war.

Laanet assured that Estonia would continue to give both lethal and non-lethal military aid to Ukraine. “We are planning to give Ukraine additional Javelin anti-tank missiles, 122 mm Howitzers together with ammunition, other Soviet-calibre ammunition available in Estonia, thousands of helmets, hundreds of bullet-proof vests, tens of thousands of Defence Forces food packs and medical devices,” he specified. “In the near future, we are also planning to transfer to Ukraine a mobile field hospital that is manufactured in Estonia in cooperation with Germany.”

Laanet added that the US, Canada and 19 European countries had given and offered military aid to Ukraine. European Union Foreign Ministers have decided that 450 million euro will be allocated from the European Peace Facility to procure lethal weaponry and 50 million euro to procure non-lethal weaponry and to give it to Ukraine.

The Minister of Defence separately pointed out that Estonia diplomatically supported Ukraine becoming a candidate country for membership of the European Union. “This country is currently fighting for the whole Europe and our shared democratic values. This activity confirms that Ukraine deserves to become a member of the united European Union,” Laanet said.

In Laanet’s words, the Estonian Government and defence forces have taken a number of necessary steps in recent times to reinforce Estonian security. He pointed out that, at the request of the allies from the North Atlantic Alliance and the NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO’s defence plans had been activated. Early in the morning on 24 February, the Estonian Government together with Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and other eastern flank countries also requested consultations under Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty. “Allies have already deployed and are deploying more deterrent forces to NATO’s eastern flank, including Estonia,” Laanet assured.

According to the Minister of Defence, Estonia is ready to meet its allied commitments in NATO’s readiness units according to the mandate given by the Riigikogu. Estonia is also participating, together with the Nordic and Baltic countries and the Netherlands, in the cooperation of the Joint Expeditionary Force JEF, led by the United Kingdom.

The minister also mentioned the additional allocation of around 340 euro for four years to the area of government of the Ministry of Defence. The lion’s share of the allocation will fall to the next year and the year after that: 99.7 million and 204.2 million euro, respectively. “These funds will be used to acquire ammunition resources for nearly all weapon systems in the Defence Forces,” Laanet said. “A large part of the supply contracts have already been concluded.”

In conclusion, Laanet said that the war could go on for a longer time, because Putin’s Russia would not agree to sign a peace agreement as a loser. “It is our task to make the damage caused by this military invasion as painful for Putin’s Russia as possible,” he said. “Massive support to Ukraine politically, economically and militarily will save the Ukrainian statehood and independence and will at the same time increase our and European security. NATO allies are strengthening defence readiness and deterrence on the eastern flank to a significant degree. And I dare say absolutely clearly that, as I see it, the allied relations are stronger than ever.”

Chair of the National Defence Committee Enn Eesmaa said that Russian military activity in Ukraine was illegal and unjustified. “I have seen in the media how Russian armed forces are violating the Geneva conventions on international humanitarian law and their additional protocols by attacking protected persons and shooting civil facilities like residences and hospitals marked with red crosses,” Eesmaa said.

Eesmaa pointed out that Karim Ahmad Khan, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, had already announced that he had decided to proceed with opening an investigation into the situation in Ukraine, as rapidly as possible. He once more referred to Khan in whose opinion there was a basis to believe that both alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity had been committed during the military action.

In Eesmaa’s words, NATO allies had taken quick action in recent weeks. At the request of the Baltic countries and Poland, consultations under Article 4 of NATO’s founding treaty had been launched and a decision on the activation of defence plans had been made. NATO’s machinery is working and allies are actively strengthening NATO’s eastern flank.

He underlined that there was a total consensus among the parliaments of the European Union countries on the assessment of the current security situation and the need to act jointly.

In Eesmaa’s words, we are seeing today that Ukrainians’ extraordinarily impressive bravery and tenacious resistance have awakened Europeans’ core values and they are yet again ready to decisively defend freedom and democracy. He said that, across Europe, there were statements declaring that the Ukrainians’ war was our war as well. “The Ukrainians’ blood also defends our freedom and democracy,” Eesmaa said. “Europeans are finally being forced to overcome their business and economic interests that have prevented them from imposing certain sanctions, and also the burdens of the past, and they have again found the courage to strengthen their defence.”

Eesmaa noted that the undisguised invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine with bombardment and massive forces had urged the European Union and the remaining democracies to act significantly more vigorously. According to him, that manifested in particular in the unprecedented tightening of the sanction regime against Russia, but pressure was also mounting against Belarus who supported Russia directly in the military campaign. “The sanctions imposed by the European Union, the US, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, South-Korea and other countries are clear signals to Russia and a statement in support of Ukraine,” Eesmaa said.

In conclusion, Eesmaa said that the National Defence Committee had recognised the Government’s efforts in increasing defence spending and he welcomed the recent decision to contribute additional 380 million euro towards Estonian security.

“Never before has our defence spending been so high, but we must still recognise that, in the extraordinary security situation that has arisen, it is inevitable to further increase defence spending both in absolute terms and as a percentage of gross domestic product,” Eesmaa said.

According to him, if necessary, we will have to make structural changes as well as to reduce the existing capability gaps with the help of loan to continue developing our defence capability. It is not reasonable to start new large capability developments, such as medium range air defence, which has been repeatedly highlighted as a priority by the committee, at the expense of limiting or cutting the existing capabilities.

The reports were followed by questions to the speakers by members of the Riigikogu and comments by the representatives of political groups and members of the Riigikogu.

Leo Kunnas took the floor on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, Jaanus Karilaid spoke on behalf of the Centre Party Faction and Helir-Valdor Seeder spoke on behalf of Faction Isamaa. Jürgen Ligi presented remarks on behalf of the Reform Party Faction and Jaak Juske on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Faction.

Tarmo Kruusimäe (Isamaa), Signe Kivi (Reform Party), Alar Laneman (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Mihhail Lotman (Isamaa), Jüri Ratas (Centre Party), Heiki Hepner (Isamaa), Andres Metsoja (Isamaa), Margit Sutrop (Reform Party), Urmas Reinsalu (Isamaa), Aadu Must (Centre Party) and Henn Põlluaas (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) also took the floor.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Photos of the sitting

The video recording of the sitting will be available on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
(Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

Source: Parliament of Estonia

The European Union Affairs Committee discusses situation in Ukraine and future of Europe with their colleagues in Paris

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

The members of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) attend in the Plenary Meeting of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC), held in Paris, France, from today until Saturday. The main topics to be discussed at the conference will be the situation in Ukraine and the future of Europe.

Member of the European Union Affairs Committee Riina Sikkut stated that although the debate on Ukraine, which will take place on Saturday, had been the last to be added to the agenda, it was undoubtedly the most important issue. “The Member States of the European Union have shown unprecedented unity in responding to Russia’s aggression. Harsh sanctions have been imposed on Russia, Ukraine is given military aid and the war refugees are helped. It is very important to continue with the same sense of unity,” Sikkut said. She added that the COSAC plenary meeting planned to approve a declaration against Russia and the war.

Member of the European Union Affairs Committee Timo Suslov plans to make a speech during the debate on climate. In his opinion, energy is the foundation of the green transition, and the transition to renewable energy in Estonia will require major investments. “In carrying out the green transition, it is important to listen to the researchers and entrepreneurs who can think clearly in their field and put theory into practice,” Suslov underlined. “I believe that the green transition will provide us opportunities, and together with innovative companies, we can do it.”

The topics on agenda of the COSAC include debates on Ukraine, on climate change and energy transition, as well as on the recovery plan for Europe, and the conference on the future of Europe. Also, the progress reports from the working groups will be heard, and the Prime Minister of France will present an overview of the plans for the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The Plenary Meeting of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union is held in Paris, France, from 3 to 5 March. Members of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Tarmo Kruusimäe, Anti Poolamets, Riina Sikkut, Timo Suslov and Margit Sutrop represent Estonia at the Plenary Meeting.

COSAC is a cooperation format that brings together the Committees for Union Affairs of the national parliaments of the 27 Member States of the European Union.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Foreign Affairs Committee: Ukraine asks for international assistance to fight Russia’s aggression

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Today, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) held a video meeting with the colleagues from the Committee on Matters of Foreign Policy and Inter-parliamentary Cooperation of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament), who told them about the current situation in the country and asked for humanitarian aid, support for the evacuation of civilians and international support for the establishment of a no-fly zone over Ukrainian cities.

Chair of the Committee on Matters of Foreign Policy and Inter-parliamentary Cooperation Oleksandr Merezhko and member of the Committee Mariia Ionova gave the Foreign Affairs Committee an overview of the situation in Ukraine. They said that Ukraine needed the support of the countries of the European Union, NATO and the United Nations in order to close the airspace above the larger cities of Ukraine and asked for the diplomatic support of all countries to achieve that.

Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson emphasised that the international assistance to Ukraine was growing by the hour. “This is something nobody could have imagined only 10 days ago, but now the pressure is increasing, the situation is changing every hour and more supporters are coming. It is also to be hoped that this will have an impact on international organisations such as the Red Cross, which at the moment has not been able to provide humanitarian assistance in the cities bombed by Russia,” Mihkelson said.

According to Mihkelson, the members of the Committee were told that the Russian army had surrounded several cities, such as Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kherson, Mariupol, and had started indiscriminate bombing of residential areas. “People are on the streets and shout at the soldiers that these are their streets, this is their city, go away,” he referred to the words of Ionova.

Mihkelson said that hearing his Ukrainian colleagues describe Russia’s war crimes had been dramatic, but at the same time the Ukrainian army and people were full of fighting spirit and would not surrender.

“Our Ukrainian colleagues asked to put pressure on all European countries not to sell fuel to Russia,” Deputy Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Mihhail Lotman said. He added that at the same time Ukraine needed fuel itself for the evacuation of civilian population, distribution of humanitarian aid and transporting weapons to the regions where military activities take place.

Lotman said that the Ukrainians asked for help in fighting against Russia’s propaganda. They had also reported that Russia was blackmailing Europe with the threat of damage to nuclear power plants.

According to Mihkelson, the Ukrainian colleagues said that it would be impossible for Putin to come to power in Ukraine because the Ukrainian people are full of fighting spirit, and it would take millions of Russian troops to gain permanent control over Ukraine.

The Ukrainian parliamentarians asked to insert influence on the Red Cross and the OSCE to provide security and help evacuate children and women from the cities. Presently, the Red Cross has refused to work in the regions that are being bombed. Getting medicines and humanitarian aid to the cities where they are needed is of critical importance. There are supplies in the western part of Ukraine, but they cannot be delivered.

The members of the Foreign Affairs Committee who participated in the meeting underlined that the Western countries were working to ensure that no war crime would go unpunished. “At the political level, we are active in both the EU and NATO to maintain unity and to support Ukraine,” Mihkelson assured. “We completely understand the situation of Ukraine. Russia is fighting against global peace by all means possible,” Mihkelson said, and added, “In this hopeless war, Putin’s regime will never win.”

Source: Parliament of Estonia

President of the Riigikogu and his Italian counterpart discussed Russia’s aggression against Ukraine

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

Today, President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Jüri Ratas held a video conference with Roberto Fico, President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament. They discussed Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the measures to be taken to stop it.

Ratas said that he had been in touch with his Ukrainian counterpart, who had shared mobile phone videos of Russia’s attacks on Kharkiv today, where dozens of people had been killed. “This is a horrible sight,” Ratas added. “These are the most terrible times in Europe after World War II.”

“In the current situation, the most important thing is to support Ukraine in every way and to stay united,” Ratas said. “I am happy to see that the members of the European Union and NATO are of one mind and the Euro-Atlantic cooperation is functioning. The United States are with us today, as well as Australia and Japan, who have joined the sanctions.”

Ratas also told his Italian counterpart about yesterday’s meeting of the Speakers of the Parliaments of the Baltic States and Sweden in Riga and assured that Ukraine had the strong support of all countries. He pointed out that Sweden, who had been a neutral country for a long time, had also decided to support Ukraine with military assistance.

“We have to stay united,” Ratas stated, and added that it was necessary to jointly request suspension of Russia’s membership in international organisations. He also underlined that the ongoing war was not a war of the Russian people, but Putin’s war. Incitement of conflicts between nations must be strictly avoided, Ratas said.  

The President of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy fully agreed with everything that was said and emphasised on his part that, in the present circumstances, unity was especially important. He also thinks that the people of Russia do not want war. This war is led and the decisions are made by a small group of the power elite.

Ratas and Fico jointly affirmed that Ukraine was an independent and sovereign state whose territorial integrity was non-negotiable, and the allies supported Ukraine.

Ratas also gave an overview of Estonia’s contribution in supporting Ukraine and noted that Estonia had given both military assistance and humanitarian aid and was receiving war refugees.

The President of the Riigikogu also thanked Italy for their contribution to defending the air space of the Baltic Sea region and affirmed that Estonia and Italy had excellent bilateral relations and their cooperation in NATO was strong as well.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

The Riigikogu discusses European security situation in light of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Today at 10 a.m., the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) convenes for an additional sitting in order to discuss the security situation in Europe in the light of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine as a matter of significant national importance initiated by the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu.

Reports will be made by Minister of Defence Kalle Laanet and Chairman of the National Defence Committee Enn Eesmaa. The reports will be followed by questions to the speakers and comments by the representatives of political groups and members of the Riigikogu.

The sitting begins at 10 a.m., and will be streamed live on the Riigikogu home page and Facebook page.

The video recording of the sitting can be viewed on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
(Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

Source: Parliament of Estonia

President of the Riigikogu: EU perspective and NATO door must remain open to Ukraine  

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

At the meeting of the Speakers of the Parliaments of the Baltic States and Sweden in Riga today, President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Jüri Ratas stated that the Western countries would not abandon Ukraine, who is fighting for the democratic world order, and that the NATO door and the membership perspective of the European Union had to remain open to Ukraine.

President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas, Speaker of the Saeima (Parliament) of Latvia Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Seimas (Parliament) of Lithuania Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen and Deputy Speaker of the Riksdag (Parliament) of Sweden Åsa Lindestam met in Riga today and gave a joint press conference.

Ratas said at the press conference that the NATO door had to remain open to every country that fulfils the membership requirements. “The admission decision will not be dictated by any non-member no matter how aggressive. Ukraine will be free to choose its own path,” Ratas underlined. In his opinion, Ukraine also deserves and needs the membership perspective of the EU. “The Ukrainians showed their resolve already back in 2014 and they have done a great job in reforming the society in the last eight years. These efforts should be taken into account in the perspective of the future membership,” Ratas explained.

“Today we have discussed what more we could do to support Ukraine and Ukrainians in their fight,” Ratas said. “In addition to what the members of EU and NATO have already done, we have to show more resolve to repel the aggressor and to hold it accountable for its actions. The sanctions must be fully targeted and implemented at the highest level.”

Ratas thinks that it goes without saying that both the military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine must continue until the war is over. We are also ready to provide help to the people fleeing the war.

Ratas pointed out that the Parliaments could help Ukraine by adopting national statements and resolutions, by demonstrating our support to Ukraine in parliamentary assemblies and international organizations, by demanding immediate secession of the Russian aggression and withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukraine.

Ratas said at the press conference that in last few days the world had witnessed a gross breach of the international law, aggression against a sovereign state and brutal human rights violations. “This was not a surprise – the aggressor did not hide his plans,” Ratas added, and recalled that this vile crime against a sovereign state reminded us of something similar from the last century, when the Soviet Union used the same tactic in November 1939 attacking Finland. “Stalin lost the war back then and Putin will also lose it.”

Photos of the meeting Saeima of Latvia

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Speakers of the Baltic and Swedish parliaments meet in Riga

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Today, President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Jüri Ratas participates in the meeting of the Speakers of the Parliaments of the Baltic States and Sweden in Riga, where mutual cooperation and the security situation in Europe following Russia’s aggression against Ukraine will be discussed.

The purpose of the meeting is to have a coordinated discussion on the strengthening of our region’s deterrence and defence capabilities in the context of the current security situation. Using of diplomatic means to put pressure on Russia, implementation of a strong sanctions package and supporting Ukraine will also be spoken of at the meeting.

President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas, Speaker of the Saeima (Parliament) of Latvia Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Seimas (Parliament) of Lithuania Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen and Speaker of the Riksdag (Parliament) of Sweden Andreas Norlén will meet in Riga.

At 1.30 p.m., they will give a joint press conference, which will be streamed live on the Riigikogu Facebook page.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

National Defence Committee proposed an additional sitting to discuss security situation

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

At its extraordinary sitting today, the National Defence Committee decided to submit a request to the President of the Riigikogu to convene an additional sitting of the Riigikogu on Tuesday, 1 March, at 10 a.m.

The Committee made a proposal by consensus to the Board of the Riigikogu to convene an additional sitting to discuss the European security situation in light of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine as a matter of significant national importance.

Reports would be made by Minister of Defence Kalle Laanet and Chairman of the National Defence Committee Enn Eesmaa. The request proposes that the reports would be followed by questions to the speakers and comments by the representatives of political groups and members of the Riigikogu.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

UK military convoy arrives in Tapa with first part of reinforcements for the NATO Battlegroup

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

After a few days journey from the Sennelager exercise area in northern Germany, a military convoy with six Challenger Main battle tanks and other armoured vehicles from the UK military’s Royal Welsh Regiment arrived in Tapa today, marking the beginning of the arrival of the Royal Welsh to Estonia.

“The integration of Allied units into our defence is not a threat to Russia mentioned by Putin or a violation of his security interests. This is the West’s reaction to the aggressive behaviour of the Russian Federation,” said Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces Lieutenant General Martin Herem.

Over the next few days, over 900 soldiers from the Royal Welsh will be deployed to Estonia, as well as additional vehicles and equipment for the battlegroup. When all the elements have arrived, the Royal Welsh will replace the Royal Tank Regiment as the leading element in the NATO Battlegroup in Tapa and will be integrated into the 1st Brigade of the Estonian Defence Forces.

“Sending an additional Allied unit at a difficult time shows that we can count on our allies even in the most difficult times. Delegation of these units under Estonian command shows confidence and trust in our Defence Forces,” said Lieutenant General Herem.

The Royal Tank Regiment will stay in Tapa over the next few months and will be working closely with the EDF brigades.

“After careful consideration with our Estonian partners, we made the decision to significantly strengthen our military presence in Estonia for the time being,” says Colonel Dai Bevan, Commander of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence in Estonia. “The UK is certainly not the only Allied nation to bolster its presence in the Baltic region in order to increase deterrence against any hostile activity. But it is important to remember that these reinforcements are purely defensive in nature, and they demonstrate our enduring commitment to the security of Estonia and other states in this region.”

“The commitment of an additional regiment to the NATO Battle Group will allow us to expand our cooperation and involve the 2nd Infantry Brigade more closely in cooperation with the Allied units,” said Lieutenant General Herem.

At the Warsaw Summit in June 2016, the leaders of NATO’s 28 members decided to deploy NATO battlegroups to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland due to the changed security environment. The leading country of the NATO Battlegroup in Estonia is the United Kingdom, with France and Denmark as contributing countries. The first battle group arrived in Tapa in April 2017.

Source: Estonian Defence Forces

Marko Mihkelson: It is time to grant Ukraine the status of a candidate country for the EU

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Marko Mihkelson said in his speech at the Inter-Parliamentary Conference on the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy in Paris today that time had come to grant Ukraine the status of a candidate country for membership in the European Union.  

Mihkelson delivered a speech at the Conference, in which he called on his colleagues from Member States to immediately do everything in their power that our unity and solidarity would transform into real support to Ukraine. “Each delay may be a threat to the freedom of the whole Europe,” Mihkelson pointed out.

The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu invited his colleagues to give an affirmative answer to the 70 per cent of the Ukrainians who wanted to see their country in the European Union. “Ukraine is welcome to become a member of the European Union,” he said.

Mihkelson emphasised in his speech that the free world had to put an end to the unpunished war crimes committed by the leadership of the Russian Federation. “No crime against humanity must remain unpunished,” Mihkelson underlined.

Mihkelson called on all Member States of the EU to protect freedom of speech and find ways to stop broadcasting Russia’s war propaganda channels in Europe.

The original programme of the Inter-Parliamentary Conference on the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy, held in Paris today, was cancelled yesterday after Russia launched extensive military activities in Ukraine. The new programme included only items relating to Ukraine. Chairman of the National Defence Committee Enn Eesmaa participated in the Conference via a video bridge.

The representatives of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committees of the national parliaments of the European Union and of the European Parliament jointly adopted a declaration, in which they condemn in the strongest terms the Russian military aggression in Ukraine and express their absolute solidarity with the state of Ukraine, the Ukrainian people and the legitimate authorities of Ukraine.

Text of the Declaration

Source: Parliament of Estonia

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