History of diplomatic relations
Ukraine recognised the Republic of Estonia on 26 August 1991. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 4 January 1992. Estonia opened its embassy in Kyiv in August 1993, and Ukraine opened its embassy in Tallinn in January 1993.
Estonia is represented in Ukraine by Ambassador Annely Kolk, who presented her credentials to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on 27 September 2023. As of August 2026, Tiina Intelmann is Estonia’s Ambassador to Ukraine.
Relations between Estonia and Ukraine are very good and have steadily grown closer over time, particularly since the beginning of Russia’s aggression in 2014 and its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Estonia consistently supports Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and does not recognise the annexation of Crimea or other Ukrainian territories temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation. Estonia is one of Ukraine’s most vocal and principled supporters in international organisations and considers Ukraine’s integration into the European Union and NATO to be important.
Cooperation takes place in many areas at the bilateral, multilateral and international levels, including within the Nordic-Baltic format. Ukraine is one of Estonia’s priority partner countries for development cooperation. Estonia also provides humanitarian assistance to Ukraine to alleviate the situation of people affected by the war, including by hosting thousands of Ukrainian war refugees.
The close relations between the two countries are reflected in regular high-level visits and close interparliamentary cooperation. The Riigikogu has an Estonia–Ukraine parliamentary group, and a similar friendship group operates in the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada.
Bilateral relations
- June 2026 – Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Andrus Merilo
- May 2026 – Minister of the Interior Igor Taro
- April 2026 – President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar
- April 2026 – Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur
- April 2026 – Minister of Energy and the Environment Andres Sutt
- February 2026 – Prime Minister Kristen Michal
- February 2026 – Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna
- October 2025 – Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna
- September 2025 – Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur
- August 2025 – Minister of Social Affairs Karmen Joller
- February 2025 – Prime Minister Kristen Michal
- January 2025 – Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna
- September 2024 – President Alar Karis
- March 2024 – Speaker of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar
- June 2023 – President Alar Karis and Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna
- April 2023 – Prime Minister Kaja Kallas
- April 2023 – Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna
- March 2023 – Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu
- November 2022 – Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu
- August 2022 – Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu
- April 2022 – President Alar Karis
- February 2022 – President Alar Karis
- February 2022 – Minister of Foreign Affairs Eva-Maria Liimets
- February 2022 – Speaker of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas
- August 2021 – President Kersti Kaljulaid
- May 2021 – Prime Minister Kaja Kallas
- April 2021 – Minister of Foreign Affairs Eva-Maria Liimets
Since 2019
- June 2026 – President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha
- June 2026 – Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna
- February 2026 – Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka
- October 2024 – Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk
- April 2024 – Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal
- January 2024 – President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba
- February 2020 – Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov
- November 2019 – President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- January 2017 – President Petro Poroshenko
- June 2016 – Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin
Joint Statement on Enhanced Security and Defence Cooperation (signed on 9 June 2026 by Prime Minister Kristen Michal and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy).
In June 2024, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the Agreement on Security Cooperation and Long-Term Support between Estonia and Ukraine. The agreement strengthens security cooperation between Estonia and Ukraine and reaffirms Estonia’s continued long-term and comprehensive support for Ukraine.
In October 2025, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha signed a memorandum of understanding in Kyiv, agreeing that Estonia would host the 2027 Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC).
In June 2026, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a joint statement on enhanced security and defence cooperation.
In July 2026, Estonia and Ukraine signed a defence cooperation agreement, also known as the drone agreement, which strengthens defence cooperation between the two countries in three areas: knowledge, technology and industry.
The Agreement on Security Cooperation and Long-Term Support, signed on 27 June 2024, is available on the website of the Government of the Republic of Estonia [2024.06.27_EE-UA kokkulepe EST.pdf].
More information on agreements concluded between Estonia and Ukraine is available in Riigi Teataja [International agreements classified by party – Riigi Teataja].
Ukraine was the first country that Estonia began supporting through its development assistance programme in 1998.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Estonia has provided Ukraine with more than €800 million in military assistance and more than €400 million in non-military assistance, including through development cooperation and humanitarian aid. In total, more than two hundred development cooperation and humanitarian aid projects have been completed or are currently being implemented.
In addition, Estonia’s private sector and civil society have provided significant support to Ukraine and Ukrainians through donations and aid projects. In cooperation with Estonian energy companies, more than €3 million has been provided to support the urgent restoration of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
More detailed information is available on the vm.ee dedicated page and on ESTDEV website [Ukraine | ESTDEV].
For more detailed data on trade with Ukraine, see the application of Statistics Estonia.
Cultural cooperation between Estonia and Ukraine is based on the agreement on cultural cooperation signed in 1996. On this basis, the Estonian and Ukrainian ministries of culture draw up five-year cultural cooperation programmes.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Estonia has provided broad-based support for Ukrainian culture. Estonia has supported Ukrainian culture both bilaterally and at the European Union level and has contributed financially to the protection and restoration of Ukraine’s cultural heritage. Estonia has also supported Ukraine in carrying out education reforms and in implementing other important EU-related reforms.
Since 2000, the Association of Ukrainian Organisations has operated in Estonia. The association works to preserve and develop Ukrainian culture, language and identity in Estonia, organises cultural events and has actively supported the people of Ukraine since 2014.
More information is available on their website [Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Estonia].
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Estonia has received Ukrainian war refugees and granted them temporary protection. According to 2026 data, more than 29,700 Ukrainian war refugees have been granted temporary protection in Estonia. In 2026, nearly 35,000 Ukrainian citizens live in Estonia.
Last updated: 17.07.2026