At the deliberation of foreign policy as a matter of significant national importance in the Riigikogu, the focus was on the security situation in Europe and Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Keit Pentus-Rosimannus stressed in her report, when speaking of the resolution of the conflict, that the continuing support of the international community is important to Ukraine in terms of the territorial integrity of the country as well as the implementation of reforms. “Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is a gross violation of the fundamental principles of international relations and international law which has resulted in more than 5000 deaths already by today. Diplomatic efforts to find peace deserve recognition but, as earlier experience has shown, the implementation of agreements is of crucial importance after all,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs said.

The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson stressed in his report that Estonia has to smartly increase its foreign policy activity. “As the border country of the free world, Estonia has to get used to the new normality as soon as possible. Threats on our borders must not become brakes to Estonia’s development,” Mihkelson said.

In Mihkelson’s opinion, the greatest challenge of Estonia’s foreign policy is to unite guaranteeing of security in an increasingly unfriendly neighbourhood with preserving and strengthening of our international competitiveness and favourable investment climate.

“In spite of all the increased threats, the security of Estonia has never been so well protected as it is now. In the free world there simply is no better and more functioning insurance policy than NATO to defend a democratic small country,” Mihkelson said.

According to Mihkelson, Russia’s aggression in Ukraine has also enabled more essential security debate than before, for example with Finland and Sweden who are not members of NATO.

“It is important to Estonia that the price of peace in Ukraine would not be splitting it or, even worse, the destruction of free Ukraine. Therefore the sanctions imposed to restrain Russia’s aggressive foreign policy can be eased only when Moscow realises that their intentions are a dead end,” Mihkelson said, and added that unfortunately the easing of sanctions in the nearest future seems almost impossible.

Juhan Parts, Barbi Pilvre, Enn Eesmaa and Imre Sooäär took part in the debate on behalf of factions.