Today, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) held a video conference with their colleagues in the Parliament of Ukraine the Verkhovna Rada. At the meeting, recent developments in Ukraine and increasing pressure from Russia were discussed.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson emphasised that Estonia followed the rising tensions in Ukraine closely. “We definitely intend to work with our closest neighbours and allies to keep the topic in the international focus and to exert pressure on the Russian Federation,” he said. Mihkelson underlined that a clear message from united Europe, and transatlantic cooperation were necessary to prevent further escalation of the situation.

He thanked the members of the Ukrainian Parliament for their thorough report and said that the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu would continue dealing with the issue and planning of possible further steps.

Representatives of the committee on foreign affairs of the Verkhovna Rada described the situation in Ukraine, where Russia had been gathering troops on the border of the country and on the occupied Crimean Peninsula. The Ukrainian colleagues also gave the members of the Riigikogu Foreign Affairs Committee an overview of the possible scenarios if the situation escalated. Potential steps of the international community to support the sovereignty and democracy of Ukraine were discussed.

The meeting was also attended by the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski, Imre Sooäär and Mailis Reps.

Riigikogu Press Service
Liisa Johanna Lukk
Phone: +372 631 6456, +372 5331 0789
E-mail: [email protected]
Questions: [email protected]