At the conclusion of his diplomatic mission, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Estonia Maksym Kononenko met with President of the Riigikogu of Estonia, Lauri Hussar.

The Ambassador sincerely thanked the Head of the Estonian parliament for Estonia’s significant contribution to the policy of non-recognition of Russia’s attempted annexation of temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, first and foremost Crimea and Sevastopol. Lauri Hussar personally, along with many other Estonian parliamentarians, has consistently participated in the Parliamentary Summits of the International Crimea Platform, unwaveringly reaffirming his commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. An important milestone in this regard was the Riigikogu’s decision of 16 October 2024 to recognize the mass deportation of the Crimean Tatars in 1944 as an act of genocide.

As a token of gratitude, the Ambassador presented Lauri Hussar with a stylized ornament inspired by a fragment of the Pectoral — a Scythian chest decoration discovered by Ukrainian archaeologists during excavations of the Tovsta Mohyla burial mound. This piece vividly illustrates how closely Crimea and the Northern Black Sea region are historically and culturally intertwined with the rest of mainland Ukraine.

Maksym Kononenko invited the President of the Riigikogu to take part in the Fourth Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform, which will take place on 23–24 September in Sweden. Lauri Hussar assured that the Estonian flag will be flying in Stockholm alongside the flags of Ukraine’s partners and allies.

The meeting also touched upon the indivisibility of European security — from the North and Baltic Seas to the Black Sea and the role played by the NB8 and the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) as key pillars of NATO’s Eastern flank. Both sides agreed on the need to further strengthen cooperation between Ukraine and these regional formats.

Particular attention was given to the rule of law and the functioning of Ukraine’s anti-corruption infrastructure. The Ambassador assured the Estonian side that, thanks to a new law adopted by the Verkhovna Rada and signed by the President of Ukraine on July 31, the anti-corruption system is now independent, fully operational, and better protected against Russian hybrid attacks.