Today, the Riigikogu discussed foreign policy as a matter of significant national importance at the initiative of the Foreign Affairs Committee, with focus on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Andres Sutt highlighted the importance of supporting Ukraine. “Ukraine needs every possible military assistance, and we need to quickly enhance the capability of Western defence industry,” he declared. “The technological and economic capabilities of the allies are far superior to Russia’s military industry. We have the duty to apply this superiority in real life.” Sutt also emphasised the need to keep up the sanctions and establish an international special tribunal.

The Chairman of the Committee evoked the foreign policy activities of the Riigikogu over the past year, which included passing five statements in support of Ukraine. Sutt remarked that keeping the West united played a crucial role in Ukraine’s victory and that the key objective in the work of the Foreign Affairs Committee over the past year has been strengthening the unity of the allies.

The impact of Russia’s war of aggression clearly reverberates out of Europe. “We know that China is closely following the events and is keen to increase its global influence,” he said, adding that for this reason, the Committee has also devoted time to topics connected to China. The Chairman emphasised that the next Riigikogu should also turn its attention to the global South, where we needed to spread the true picture of Russia’s aggression.

The security situation in the world has clearly demonstrated how essential parliamentary diplomacy is. The foreign visits last spring focused on supporting Ukraine, including by giving them the EU candidate country status, and the accession to NATO of Finland and Sweden. The Chairman stressed that the compromised security situation demanded active relations with allies, including face to face meetings, and that we needed to find the time and the money for this.

The Chairman added that the parliamentary scrutiny of the Foreign Affairs Committee over government’s foreign policy activities had helped to nurture and increase foreign policy consensus among political parties in Estonia. “This is why it is important that in the future the Foreign Affairs Committee would be the platform where different foreign policy ideas would be presented to seek and find unity,” Sutt suggested.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu delivered the annual address on foreign policy, which focused on Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and Estonia’s role in supporting Ukraine and influencing international policy. The Minister stressed that Estonia’s foreign policy is directed at ensuring Ukraine’s victory.

Ukraine has resisted the aggression bravely and courageously and has won battles on the battlefield and in international politics. “The war has brought us – that is, Estonia and the international community in general – closer together. We have already done a great deal to support Ukraine’s struggle. However, it is extremely important to recognise that we must and can do more to ensure Ukraine’s victory,” Reinsalu said.

The Minister emphasised that we needed to continue supporting Ukraine until the aggressor has been repelled back across pre-war borders and the perpetrators of crimes have been brought to justice. “Until Russia has paid a just price for the destruction and suffering it has unleashed,” he said. “The founding principles of the international order, our future, are at stake. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is not merely a question of Ukraine’s security. The rules-based international order and the foundation of Europe’s security are under attack.”

Reinsalu explained that Estonia’s actions in supporting Ukraine’s victory were based on three broader policies: raising the cost of the aggression for Russia, offering comprehensive assistance to Ukraine, and the adequate and fair judgement of the acts of the aggressor. He also described the principles of the eventual peace after the war.

The reports were followed by questions to the speakers and comments by the representatives of political groups and members of the Riigikogu.

Marko Mihkelson (Reform Party), Enn Eesmaa (Centre Party), Mihhail Lotman (Isamaa), Indrek Saar (Social Democratic Party), and Henn Põlluaas (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor on behalf of their factions. Tarmo Kruusimäe (Isamaa) and Jüri Jaanson (Reform Party) also spoke, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu responded to comments.

Presentation of the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee

Photos of the sitting (Author: Erik Peinar, Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

The video recording of the sitting will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
(Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
Phone: +372 631 6592, +372 510 6179
E-mail [email protected]
Questions [email protected]