Hussar to Grand Master of the Order of Malta: Russia is an aggressor and Ukraine must be helped on its feet
Today, the President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar welcomed the Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta is Fra' John T. Dunlap in his visit to Estonia and invited the Order to close cooperation in supporting Ukraine both during Russia’s full-scale war and after its end.
Hussar stressed that Estonia very much appreciated the long-term experience of the Order of Malta in responding to humanitarian crises and expressed his hope of finding new possibilities for cooperation with Ukraine in humanitarian and recovery projects.
“Our message to the whole world has remained the same for years—pressure on Russia and continued support to Ukraine must continue. Estonia has experienced how a poor country was built into a strong and developed nation in a short time after the collapse of the Soviet Union. But we had the support and solidarity of other developed nations. We must offer the same support to Ukraine,” Hussar said. The parties discussed launching a joint pilot project in Zviahel, Ukraine, with focus on developing the rehabilitation and social system of the region.
Grand Master Dunlap explained that the Order of Malta is currently working on 74 different missions in Ukraine, and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to enhance cooperation with Estonia. He declared the Order ready to contribute to our local projects as well, referring to the cooperation agreement signed between Estonia and the Order today, which lays the foundation for possible expansion of the activities of Knights Hospitaller in health care provision in Estonia.
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, i.e. the Order of Malta, is a Catholic order founded in 1099. As a sovereign subject of international law, the Order maintains diplomatic relations with 110 sovereign states, including 19 EU Member States and the European Union. The mission of the Order is to assist the poor and the suffering around the world.
Estonia established diplomatic relations with the Order of Malta in 2020. The Embassy of the Order was opened in Tallinn in 2023. The cooperation agreement signed today creates opportunities to cooperate in the fields of health care services, social welfare, volunteering, proactive disaster preparedness, humanitarian aid, and refugee integration in Estonia as well as Ukraine.
Riigikogu Press Service
Maiki Vaikla
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