Dear Mr. Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Mr. Ruslan! Dear Members of the Ukrainian Parliament, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends! I am very glad to return to Kyiv – the capital of free, independent and democratic Ukraine.

It is a great honour for me to address you today. For the second time in a year I am speaking here. And yesterday in Warsaw I met with Mrs. Elzbieta Witek, the Marshal of the Polish Sejm. And I convey her sincere greetings to you.

I was here for the first time on March 24, when a month had passed since the beginning of the invasion, together with my Lithuanian and Latvian colleagues. I was among the first people – the leaders of the neighbouring countries – to visit your country in this evil hour.

Since then, some things have changed and some have not. Unfortunately, the russian aggression against Ukraine has not changed. This brutal war has now been going on for almost 300 days. russian aggression has caused extreme suffering to the Ukrainian people: tens of thousands killed and millions forced to flee their homes. the russian federation is the only country responsible for these consequences.

We condemn in the strongest possible terms russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine. russian invasion, attacks on civilians, attacks on critical infrastructure and energy facilities are acts of terror. In cities such as Bucha, Borodyanka, Irpin, Mariupol and others, the russian federation has committed genocide against women and men, against girls and boys. The Estonian Parliament adopted a statement recognizing the russian aggression against Ukraine as an international crime, a crime against civilians, humanity and genocide against the Ukrainian people. We condemn the annexation of Ukrainian territories and also declare the russian regime a terrorist regime.

We do not know exactly how and when this war will end, but we know that it will never end with a russian victory. History teaches us that responsibility is a very important thing. Estonia supports all efforts to ensure an independent and effective investigation of the crimes that russia has committed in Ukraine. War crimes, crimes of aggression must be punished. Therefore, Estonia supports Ukraine in establishing a special tribunal to legally punish russia’s crimes in Ukraine. And also Ukraine must demand and receive reparations from russia for the damage caused.

Dear friends, dear ladies and gentlemen! Since the last time I was here, one thing remains unshakable, like a rock – the spirit of Ukraine, the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people. The will to fight and defeat the aggressor has become even stronger. You are fighting for the freedom and territorial integrity of your country, but also for a free, democratic world based on the rule of law.

I want to thank all the brave men and women in Ukraine, your soldiers, your esteemed deputies and all Ukrainian leaders. I want to thank you for your resistance, for your courage, for your love of freedom. I thank you for defending Europe from russian imperialism. I want to bow my head to all the fallen heroes who lost their lives in this struggle.

Dear Mr. Ruslan, dear deputies! There is also an unchangeable thing that will never change – Estonia stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine in defence of its freedom! It will remain so until the occupied territories are liberated, and law and justice prevail.

Dear friends, there is one change – the desire of international partners to make russia pay the highest price for its aggression. Recently Estonia and other countries have been working together to apply more and wider sanctions against russia. The most recent example of this is the price ceiling on russian oil and oil products in order to limit the revenues to the russian budget. This is the right measure, but it is not final. We must completely stop russian production from selling their raw materials. There should be no oil revenues to the russian budget. We will put pressure with sanctions and isolate russia in the international arena.

Our political, military and economic support to Ukraine has also increased in recent months. Estonia was among the first to donate weapons to Ukraine before the war started. And we provide military assistance of more than 255 million euros, which is about one third of our defence budget. We will continue to help Ukraine. We will provide everything necessary.

And it is also quite clear to us that there is no security in Europe without security in Ukraine. Therefore, we call on our NATO allies to increase their defence assistance to Ukraine, providing both heavy weapons and air defence systems. Our economic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine focuses on getting you through the winter safely and rebuilding your energy infrastructure. We are sending warm clothes, food, generators, transformers, and all other components needed to rebuild Ukraine’s power grid. We are also convinced that we cannot wait for the end of the war, and we have already started rebuilding Ukraine and provided the necessary means for this.

We have been doing this for several months, focusing on the Zhytomyr region: we are rebuilding Ovruch, a kindergarten in the city of Malyn, we have provided 44 buses for Zhytomyr and other Ukrainian cities to restore the public transport fleet.

Dear ladies and gentlemen! Ukraine is Europe. Ukraine’s place is in the united European family. Your integration with Euro-Atlantic structures is the most needed contribution to the peace and stability of Europe. Since my last visit, Ukraine has gained candidacy and this is a great breakthrough, but only the beginning of the road to your EU membership. We admire your commitment and determination. You continue to implement the necessary reforms. Estonia is ready to share its experience of joining the European Union. We will help you to move towards your bright future of EU membership. One day Ukraine will take its rightful place among the membership of this Union.

Also, about Ukraine’s competition to join NATO. Twenty years ago, Estonia, along with some other European countries, received an invitation to join NATO. The bright day will come when your country, Ukraine, will also receive an invitation to join NATO. Estonia is focusing its attention on providing as much support as possible for Ukraine’s membership in NATO.

Dear Members of Parliament! The relations between our parliaments have always been good, but during the war we have become even closer. Two weeks ago, Estonian MPs, members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group, visited Ukraine. This is one of the visits of our deputies to Ukraine and reciprocal visits of Ukrainian parliamentarians. I would like to thank Mr. Arseniy Pushkarenko, the Chairman of the Ukrainian-Estonian Interparliamentary Friendship Group in the Verkhovna Rada, for his extraordinary contribution to strengthening ties between our parliaments. I am sure that after my visit to Ukraine, we will be able to welcome your First Deputy Chairman of the Parliament in Tallinn.

 But we need to strengthen our ties not only between politicians, but most of all and above all – between our peoples. Estonia has already hosted more than 60 thousand Ukrainians fleeing from the russian aggression. As a result, we have five percent more people in Estonia than a year ago. Eight thousand Ukrainian children attend Estonian schools. We warmly welcomed Ukrainians in our home, supported them. This is the best example of extraordinary solidarity. More than eighty percent of all humanitarian aid provided by the Estonian private sector is provided by private companies and non-governmental organizations. Starting from trucks and ending with winter clothes for your soldiers. I think we have support. This is the foundation of our friendship, our joint work, in uniting our two peoples in the future.

Dear deputies, ladies and gentlemen! On February 24, 2023, we will celebrate the 130th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Estonia, the independent state of Estonia. It will be one year since the beginning of the brutal russian invasion. I want to express my hope that on that day the last russian soldier will leave the internationally recognized Ukrainian borders, even if I wish too much.

I want to say one more thing – russia will lose in this war, and Ukraine will win! The Ukrainian people will be able to decide for themselves what their future will be. Together with Estonia, Ukraine will take its place in the Euro-Atlantic community. We are working for this. Estonia is with you! Glory to Ukraine!