We condemn in the strongest terms Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. It has undermined the foundation of the international rules-based order and the security and stability of Europe. The sacrifice of the Ukrainian people for their European choice is unprecedented. Ukraine is not only defending its territory but also the UN Charter, our shared values and the core principles of international law. We underline Ukraine’s sovereign decision on the peace process. Estonia expresses its strong support for Ukraine’s Peace Formula.
We reaffirm our support for the principles of international law, the inviolability of borders and the right of every state to choose its own path and security arrangements. We reiterate our demand that the Russian Federation immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
We agree that a strong, independent and prosperous Ukraine, as part of the Euro-Atlantic family and as a member of the EU and NATO, is essential for the future of European security. The European Union and NATO, based on common values, must remain the cornerstone of security in Europe. We note the support of the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians for Ukraine’s integration into the European Union and NATO and that the Constitution of Ukraine defines acquiring full-fledged membership in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as a strategic course of the state.
In the context of the NATO Vilnius Summit, we agree to work together to establish a path that will help bring Ukraine closer to NATO membership and pave the way for Ukraine to join NATO as soon as conditions allow. We commit to coordinating closely on this matter and to ensuring Ukraine´s security while on a path towards NATO membership.
We reiterate the importance of the historic decision by the European Union adopted on 23 June 2022 to grant EU candidate country status to Ukraine. Estonia reaffirms its strong support for Ukraine’s membership in the EU and welcomes the impressive reform progress achieved by Ukraine on implementing the recommendations of the European Commission. Estonia looks forward to Ukraine starting accession negotiations in 2023, provided that the recommendations are fulfilled.
Estonia will continue to strongly support Ukraine – militarily, economically and politically – for as long as it takes, until Ukraine’s victory. Estonia will continue to promote effective military aid to Ukraine, including through the European Peace Facility.
We commend the extensive bilateral relations between Ukraine and Estonia that have grown even stronger in the last year and commit to further deepening our relationship in all spheres of joint interest. We take note of the great economical potential of Ukraine. Reconstruction and reforms offer opportunities to transform the economy and unlock its potential. We emphasize the importance of Ukraine’s consistent efforts to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the Grain from Ukraine humanitarian program aimed at enhancing global food security. We underscored the importance of the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes covering trade across all sectors and connecting Ukraine with the EU and the rest of the world.
Ukraine emphasizes the importance of the support provided by Estonia, including efforts made by the government, municipalities, civil society and NGOs, to help Ukraine withstand the Russian aggression and to assist with reconstruction and rapid recovery, notably, in the Zhytomyr region. We recognize the importance of digital development and the strengthening of cyber capabilities and commit to continuing to develop the already intensive cooperation in these fields.
We underline our firm commitment to bringing to justice those responsible for war crimes and other atrocity crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. We welcome the arrest warrants of the International Criminal Court. We see this as the beginning of the process of accountability and of holding Russian leaders to account for the crimes and atrocities they are ordering, enabling or committing in Ukraine.
The crime of aggression is at the origin of all the other crimes committed in Ukraine. We support the establishment of an international special tribunal for the crime of aggression with broad international support, since it provides maximum legitimacy while ensuring the prosecution of the political leadership.
Together with our closest partners, we continue to seek ways to raise the cost for Russia, including by adopting new EU sanctions packages as well as strong and comprehensive anti-circumvention measures to tackle Russia’s evasion of sanctions. We will jointly pursue work to establish a legal basis for the use of frozen and immobilized Russian assets to support Ukraine’s reconstruction and for the purposes of reparation.
We commit to coordinating closely on all these matters further by intensifying bilateral consultations.
Signed in duplicate in Zhytomyr on 24 April 2023 in English.
On behalf of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
On behalf of the Republic of Estonia Prime Minister Kaja Kallas