Political relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Estonia
Recognition by Estonia of Ukraine: August 26, 1991
Establishment of diplomatic relations: January 4, 1992
Relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Estonia have a long history and today are characterized by a high level of trust and partnership.
Estonia strongly condemns the Russian aggression against Ukraine since the first days of the war. Consistent political support, military, humanitarian and financial assistance is provided. On March 14, 2022, Riigikogu deputies were the first to call on UN member states to take urgent measures to create a non-fly zone over Ukraine. On April 21, 2022, the Riigikogu adopted the statement "On war crimes and genocide of the Russian Federation in Ukraine" - Estonia became the first country to recognize the criminal actions of Russia (the Russian political and military leadership and the armed forces of the Russian Federation) against Ukraine as genocide. On October 18, 2022, the Riigikogu adopted a statement condemning the annexation of the territory of Ukraine and declaring the Russian regime as terrorist.
Support for Ukraine is one of the foreign policy priorities established on April 10, 2023 in the coalition agreement of the new Government headed by K. Kallas and approved on May 18, 2023 in the Government Action Program for 2023-2027.
Estonia was one of the first countries that began to support Ukraine with military aid. Since the beginning of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, Estonia has provided military and technical assistance to our state for more than 400 million euros, which is more than 1% of Estonia's GDP. Estonia is among the leaders in terms of military aid per capita.
In March 2023, the Government of Estonia allocated EUR 25.4 million to cover costs related to temporarily displaced persons from Ukraine. Funds are distributed between the Ministry of Culture (learning the Estonian language at A1 level), the Ministry of Social Protection (providing medical and social services) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (strengthening border surveillance and migration monitoring). Since the beginning of the Russian aggression, Estonia has already provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine in the amount of EUR 23.1 million, of which government aid - EUR 4.1 million, private aid - EUR 19.0 million.
Estonia also joined and strictly adheres to all political and economic sanctions introduced by the EU against the Russian Federation, including personal ones. Estonia was one of the first to ban broadcasting of Russian TV channels. The government of Estonia continues its efforts to implement in practice the already adopted political decision to refuse Russian gas and oil. On April 17, 2022 Estonia closed its ports to Russian ships. Estonia is actively lobbying for the introduction of EU sanctions packages against the Russian Federation, including an embargo on oil and gas. From September 19, 2022, the Government has prohibited entry to Estonia for citizens of the Russian Federation.
Estonia became the first country that started the practical recovery of one of the regions of Ukraine - Zhytomyr region. During the First Regional Forum on the Recovery of the Territories of Zhytomyr Region Affected by Russian Aggression (September 27, 2022), a Memorandum was signed between the Zhytomyr RMA, the Ovruch community and the Estonian Center for International Cooperation on the construction of a kindergarten in Ovruch. On June 2, 2023, the official opening ceremony of the first phase of the kindergarten for 4 blocks was held. In addition, the Government of Estonia will finance the construction of the second phase of the kindergarten for an additional 4 blocks. The Estonian side is also considering other infrastructural reconstruction projects in the Zhytomyr region, in particular, among the following priority projects - the reconstruction of the road bridge in Malyn.
A dynamic political dialogue is maintained between the states, particularly at the highest level.
Contacts and visits at the highest level
January 10, 2023 - telephone conversation between President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and President of Estonia A. Karis.
January 11, 2023 - a telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia U. Reinsalu.
February 7, 2023 - telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia U. Reinsalu.
February 22, 2023 - telephone conversation between President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and President of Estonia A. Karis.
March 3, 2023 - the meeting of President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia U. Reinsalu and the meeting of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia U. Reinsalu during the international conference United for Justice (U4J, "United for the sake of justice") in the city of Lviv.
March 21-23, 2023 - the visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia U. Reinsalu to Ukraine.
March 31, 2023 - the participation of President of Estonia A. Karis in the Bucha summit in online format.
April 24, 2023 - the visit of Prime Minister of Estonia K. Kallas to Ukraine.
April 28, 2023 - a joint visit of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of NB8 to Ukraine with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia M. Tsakhna.
May 9, 2023 - the participation of President of Estonia A. Karis in the online summit of the leaders of the Core Group on the creation of the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
May 13, 2023 - the meeting of First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine O. Kornienko with President of Estonia A. Karis on the sidelines of the Lennart Mary Conference in Tallinn.
May 31, 2023 - a telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia M. Tsakhna.
June 1-2, 2023 - the visit of President of Estonia A. Karis and Minister of Economy and Information Technologies of Estonia T. Riisalo to Ukraine.
June 2, 2023 - the visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia M. Tsakhna to Ukraine.
June 2, 2023 - a meeting of Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine R. Stefanchuk with President (Speaker) of the Riigikogu of Estonia L. Hussar within the framework of the Summit of Presidents of NATO Parliaments (Vilnius).
Bilateral interparliamentary relations are supported by friendship groups of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Riigikogu (Parliament) of the Republic of Estonia. On a permanent basis, contacts are maintained and fruitful cooperation develops.