At a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba during the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets said Ukraine must be given EU candidate country status, and frozen Russian assets should be used for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
In addition to Ukraine’s EU accession perspective and long term and short term financial aid, the foreign ministers of the EU and Ukraine discussed fighting disinformation that the Russian regime is using as a hybrid weapon, and continuing to impose sanctions on Russia. “We understand that there are differences in the extent of dependence on Russia’s energy carriers, including oil, but this is why we have proposed a transition period as a solution,” Liimets said. “Ukraine must win this war and on our part, we can help by stopping all funding of Russia. Russia must be held responsible for the damage it has caused and the crimes it has committed.”
More than six million people have left Ukraine because of the war, and 37 000 of them have arrived in Estonia. This is more than 2.8% of Estonia's population. “I was in Ukraine recently and saw very clearly the horrors the Ukrainians have had to bear. They need all the help and support we can give them,” Liimets said.
“For us to be able to offer the best possible assistance to the Ukrainian refugees arriving Estonia, I met with the European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson today and requested the allocation of additional support for Estonia.” This would help cover the cost of accommodation, education and healthcare provided to the Ukrainians.
The ministers also talked about the EU enlargement process on the Western Balkans. It is Estonia’s view that the countries that support the EU’s common foreign and security policy should be included in the discussions of the EU to a larger extent.
“Estonia supports launching accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania and launching talks on visa freedom with Kosovo. These countries have made efforts to become a part of the EU. Our strength is in unity and the European Commission is working on making it possible,” Liimets said.
A meeting of the foreign ministers of the EU and Canada was also held in the framework of the meeting of the FAC to discuss the coordination of humanitarian and defence aid to Ukraine and developing transatlantic relations. In her statement, Foreign Minister Liimets also thanked Canada for its contribution to the security of the Baltic States.
Photos of the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council are available here.