It is my pleasure, dear Ursula, to welcome you in Estonia. Thank you for the good and thorough discussion we just finished.
I am glad that we will be opening the Tallinn Digital Summit shortly that will focus on how to build trusted connections and trusted partnerships and how to avoid new dependencies – a topic that has greater urgency given ongoing Russian aggression. The embodiment of the trusted connectivity concept that Estonia has introduced is the European Union’s Global Gateway – something you, Ursula, have been personally leading.
I am also happy that I can take you to Narva today, right on the external border of the EU. There we will launch Estonia’s just transition plan that will help us to deliver green transition for the people of Ida-Virumaa. We will also visit the Narva border crossing point and the Kreenholm manufactory – a place where the histories of my family and your family have met.
You were last in Estonia a year ago and since then a lot has changed. Most notably, Russia is waging a full-scale war against a sovereign European country. This affects all of us.
Dear Ursula,
You have been at the forefront of the European response to Russian aggression and European support to Ukraine. You understand well the Russian threat and what it means to our common security. Commission has translated your understanding into strong policy proposals. I thank you for your leadership in building and upholding the unity in the EU.
Ukraine’s success on the battlefield means that we have been on the right track and that we must make use of this momentum. It must be translated into ever increasing and stronger support to Ukrainian soldiers, economy and its people. We must all do more, so Ukraine can free its territories. This is the way towards peace.
And, Ursula, as you have rightly said: “This is the time for us to show resolve, not appeasement”.
This war is far from over. Therefore, also economic isolation and pressure on Russia must continue – sanctions aim to dry-up its war machine. It is important that a compromise was found on additional EU sanctions, containing also a price cap on Russian oil.
Russia’s crimes, including crime of aggression, crimes against humanity and possibly genocide cannot remain unpunished. Our focus needs to be on how to achieve accountability. Impunity cannot be an option.
And we cannot forget about the Ukrainian war refugees. Ukrainian refugees – mostly women and children – already form about 4,4% of the population of Estonia. Our message to the European Commission is that a European solution is needed to assist those fleeing from the war inside Ukraine as well as to support the Member States who are providing shelter and protection to large number of Ukrainian refugees. I would also like to thank the Commission for the work they have been doing in this regard.
Next to the conventional war that Russia is waging against Ukraine, there is also a hybrid war and an information war going on. We must pay attention to the stability of our societies because Russia’s long-term interest is to divide us – not only us as partners in the EU, but also within our societies.
This brings me to my final point – energy. Russia has demonstrated very clearly how energy can be used as a weapon. This means we need to ensure the energy security of Europe and we need to work on different tracks: decreasing energy prices, ensuring security of supply, diversification of energy sources and ending our dependence on Russia’s hydrocarbons, boosting investments to deliver green energy.
At the moment, the most time-sensitive issue is to find common solutions to reducing energy prices. This will work only in case we find joint solutions and not fragment the EU single market. We discussed it last week in Prague and must continue with urgency. Here I also turn to the Commission for their leadership.
This winter may be hard, but this is the price we must pay to put a stop to Russian aggression and its imperialist dream once and for all. And the only way to do so is by demonstrating unity and strength.
Thank you.
