Mihkelson became co-chair of Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council
Marko Mihkelson, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) and member of the Estonian delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, was elected the Co-Chair of the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council today in Brussels.
According to Mihkelson, the role of the Co-Chair of the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council will enable strengthening political unity among allies and practical support for Ukraine. “My focus is to keep Ukraine’s victory against Russia’s aggression firmly at the centre of NATO’s agenda and to promote decisions that increase Ukraine’s military, economic, and political resilience,” he said. “I also consider it important to deepen the role of parliaments in strategic oversight and accountability so that our shared commitments are fulfilled quickly and effectively.”
Mihkelson will replace Head of the Lithuanian delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Audronius Azubalis as Co-Chair of the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council (UNIC). First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniyenko will continue as the Ukrainian Co-Chair of the Council.
Mihkelson and Korniyenko also made a joint statement at today’s meeting of the Council where they strongly condemned Russia’s brutal and systematic air strikes, which are aimed at causing as much suffering as possible to civilians, especially during the winter months, and called on the Allies to take decisive action, including accelerating the provision of military aid.
They also expressed support for efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace that would ensure Ukraine’s independent and sovereign future and noted that the best path to peace was to support Ukraine’s defence capabilities. They also expressed support for the use of Russia’s frozen assets to support Ukraine’s reconstruction, recovery, and defence.
The meeting of the Council was held at NATO Headquarters, and it was attended by President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Marcos Perestrello de Vasconcellos, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who also answered questions from delegates. Several Ambassadors from NATO member states, including Estonia’s Permanent Representative to NATO Jüri Luik, and military representatives from various countries participated in the discussions.
The UNIC is a council composed of members of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, which focuses on parliamentary cooperation between NATO and Ukraine. The Council also plays an important role in shaping the positions of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly regarding support for Ukraine in the war of aggression initiated by Russia and Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration.
Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
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