On March 12, 2024, on behalf of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Estonia Maksym Kononenko awarded the Order "For Merit" of the II degree to distinguished professionals, true leaders and great friends of Ukraine: Chief of the Defence Forces of Estonia, General Martin Herem, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Estonia, Kusti Salm.
Both of them have done a lot to help Ukraine prepare for the onset of full-scale Russian aggression, withstand the initial days of the Russian onslaught, stabilize the situation, and repel their advances during the first year of the war. It was they who made crucial decisions for us regarding the transfer of Javelins in the winter of 2022, which helped halt the enemy's advance towards Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Mykolaiv. It was they who ensured that we had enough ammunition to liberate Kharkiv in September 2022 and Kherson in November. Ukraine owes its unprecedented decision to transfer all the country's barrel artillery to the Armed Forces to their courage.
On behalf of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the entire Ukrainian people, Ambassador of Ukraine to Estonia Maksym Kononenko expressed gratitude for the example of true strategic thinking and military wisdom. Strengthening our defense potential is the best investment in peace and security not only for Ukraine or Estonia but also for the entire European continent.
The Ambassador noted: "Ukraine has set itself the goal of receiving an invitation to the Alliance at the Washington Summit in 2024. We will do everything in our power to achieve this goal, but the key to success lies in the support of allies. Allies who understand that Ukraine in NATO is the best deterrent against new russian aggression. Who understand that the Armed Forces of Ukraine will significantly strengthen the Alliance's eastern flank. Who realize that Ukraine's accession to NATO is not just about Ukraine, but about NATO's readiness to defend its values."
"We cannot change geography: russia has been and will remain our eastern neighbor. We cannot change the totalitarian russian regime and we cannot change the mentality of russians ready to kill, torture, destroy, and drown entire countries and peoples in blood for the sake of restoring the pretended greatness of the «russian state». But we can unite our efforts in a defensive alliance and ensure that neither Ukraine nor Estonia will ever be alone in this struggle again."