According to Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, Russia is a direct party to the conflict in eastern Ukraine and should finally acknowledge this fact.
Estonia condemns Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, which violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. “It is clear that Russia does not want to de-escalate the conflict and therefore their calls for a cease-fire cannot be taken seriously,” Paet said, adding that future peace talks will be successful only if Russia admits that it is a party to the conflict.
Paet stated that Russia's continued military activity is an obstacle to finding a political solution and that the international community must respond clearly.
Paet stated that serious attention must be paid to Ukrainian and Russian soldiers who have lost their lives in the conflict, as well as their loved ones. “We need to pay serious attention to the concerns of the Union of the Committees of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia regarding thousands of Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine and hundreds of dead and injured, while the Russian government continues to deny its country’s participation in the bloodshed in eastern Ukraine,” he said.
Paet stated that Estonia considers it important that the UN Security Council, OSCE, European Union and NATO begin prompt discussions and follow-up regarding the events in Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Paet added that Estonia will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
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