According to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, it feels good to be among friends on Estonia's 105th anniversary. “Estonia's most important achievement is freedom. The people of Estonia have a steadfast will to defend their country. Our defence spending is also significant, at around 3% of GDP this year. The European Union and NATO are also cornerstones of Estonia's freedom and security. The guiding principle "Never alone again" has been at the heart of Estonia's foreign and security policy all these years since the restoration of independence," said the Prime Minister.
Today marks one year since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. “The freedom struggle of Ukrainians is also a confirmation that freedom is courage and that you are not alone,” Kallas said.
Prime Minister Kallas congratulated Commission President von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg for their leading role in preserving the unity of the European Union and NATO and supporting Ukraine. “Grey areas in European security must remain a thing of the past, because they create instability and lead to war. Ukraine’s place is in the European Union and after the end of the war also in NATO,”Kallas emphasised.
Prime Minister Kallas also pointed out at the meeting that Russia is attacking Ukraine, but their target is the entire free world. "Freedom will triumph over evil, sooner or later. However, history has shown that risks must be taken to defeat evil. There must be no room for fear in support of Ukraine. If we are afraid of Russian threats, we will wake up in a much more dangerous world. Ukraine does not feel fear. We have no fear here. There should be no fear among those countries who have much better neighbours than Russia. Ukraine's victory is important to break the endless cycle of Russian wars of conquest,” Kallas said.
Prime Minister Kallas' proposal for a joint and rapid procurement of one million artillery shells for Ukraine for the value of four billion euros was also discussed at the meeting. "The European Union was able to react quickly and innovatively together during the COVID crisis. It is time to show the same resourcefulness and speed in sending ammunition to Ukraine,” Kallas explained. The Prime Minister also noted that, in addition to supporting Ukraine, it is important that the European defence industry is able to produce in a quantity that corresponds to the changed security situation.
Press statement by Prime Minister Kallas: https://valitsus.ee/en/news/remarks-prime-minister-kaja-kallas-joint-press-conference-secretary-general-nato-jens
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stenbockimaja/albums/72177720306229050/with/52708129140/