According to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, the role of France in both providing aid to Ukraine and raising the price of aggression for Russia has been extremely important. “French aid to Ukraine, including the provision of heavy weaponry, has been significant and contributed to Ukrainian success on the battlefield. We have a common understanding with France that the priority is to continue supporting Ukraine for as long as necessary,” said Kallas. “Ukraine must win this war and Russia must retreat to its borders – this is the path to peace,” emphasised Kallas.
According to Prime Minister Kallas, Russia is using all kinds of tricks, be it attacks on the civilian infrastructure of Ukraine, threats of a nuclear catastrophe, or a propaganda campaign about a ‘dirty bomb’ to scare us and break unity. “Russia wants to make us hesitate, to paralyse our decision-making ability, and end our support for Ukraine. It is therefore all the more important that we do not take a single step back,” emphasised Kallas. The ministers also discussed the use of frozen Russian assets and the issue of impunity. Kallas said that the European Union could take on the task of creating a tribunal investigating crimes of aggression.
Prime Minister Kallas also spoke with Foreign Minister Colonna about the implementation of solutions agreed at the NATO Madrid Summit and more broadly about defence cooperation with France. “There has never been a greater presence of allies in Estonia than now. NATO takes the defence of its territory seriously. We are grateful for the French soldiers in Tapa and the French planes protecting our skies in Ämari,” said Kallas.
The Prime Minister of Estonia also highlighted the successful military cooperation with France in Africa. “Our servicemen served together in Mali. Cooperation with the French to ensure security outside Europe will certainly continue in the future,” said Kallas.
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stenbockimaja/albums/72177720303158997/with/52453356808
