It is my pleasure to welcome you in Estonia today. Estonia and Ireland are good friends and partners. Our discussion today focused on the changed security situation in Europe and what more can we do to help Ukraine, including those who have fled the war and need our support and shelter.
It is critical to continue helping Ukraine with all the aid they ask for. Estonia has given Ukraine military aid worth of over 220 million euros. We began with it already before the war. I also acknowledge Ireland’s significant contribution to the European Peace Facility to strengthen Ukraine’s resistance.
Flexible and needs-based humanitarian assistance is crucial, too. Ireland has done a great deal to help Ukraine, especially refugees. This support of the Irish people today reminds me of the Second World War and the kindness the Irish people showed to Estonians who were on their way to the U.S. and Canada as refugees, escaping from the brutality of Soviet and Nazi occupiers.
Today, Estonia itself offers safe refuge to a vast number of Ukrainians. Out of the EU countries, we host the 4th largest number of refugees per capita - over 2.1% of our population. This has put our reception capacity under considerable pressure. We are in this for the long haul and look for ways on how to share this burden among partners.
We must continue to increase the cost of this war to Russia. Putin must not win this war. He cannot even think he has won. The initial sanctions imposed by the EU, together with partners, have been robust and quick. But as the brutal war shows – this is not enough. Yesterday the EU agreed on new important measures. But as energy is a major source of income for the Kremlin’s war machine, we must do more. We need to seal our actions with sanctions on all Russian energy carriers as soon as possible. My Government confirmed yesterday that we will stop using Russian gas.
We also need to keep on isolating Russia politically. Yesterday the UN General Assembly suspended Russia from the UN Human Rights Council. The world's message to the Kremlin is clear: atrocities bring consequences and aggressors have no place on the global stage. And this is not the end of the road. We will keep isolating Russia in every possible way as its brutal war against Ukraine continues.
Finally, I would also like to say that challenging times encourage friends to work even more closely together. That is why we also discussed energy, the green transition and digital cooperation during the meeting. I am glad that Ireland is interested in our digital society and in the different e-solutions and in our cyber security capabilities. This expertise is something we are more than happy to share with you to foster our digital cooperation. I'm glad you will be visiting the e-Estonia briefing centre during your stay in Tallinn.
In conclusion, I would once again like to thank you, dear Micheál, for coming to Estonia. And I am sure the good cooperation between Estonia and Ireland will continue.
