Estonia and Ukraine launch formal negotiations over a bilateral security agreement
Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
20.03.2024
Yesterday 19 March, Estonia and Ukraine held the first stage of formal negotiations over a bilateral security agreement. The security agreement is aimed at reinforcing security cooperation between Estonia and Ukraine, and reaffirm Estonia's continued and comprehensive long-term support to Ukraine.
"The agreement of Estonia and Ukraine is centred on defence and security cooperation but also addresses broader issues, such as Ukraine's integration into the European Union and NATO, continued sanctions on Russia, compensating the damage caused to Ukraine with the aggression, development cooperation with Ukraine, and reconstruction and cooperation on civilian protection," Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said. "It is important to negotiate an agreement as soon as possible because during this critical time, Ukraine needs certainty about the long-term support of its partners, as this would allow Ukraine to plan its actions better in countering the aggression of the Russian Federation."
The process of bilateral security agreements is the result of a joint statement of G7, signed on 12 July last year and aimed at ensuring sustained political, military, financial and economic assistance to Ukraine, and contributing to the compensation of damage caused by Russia's aggression. In addition to G7 states, Ukraine also takes on responsibilities in the joint statement. Estonia joined the joint statement on 17 August last year with Latvia and Lithuania.
32 countries and the European Union have joined the statement by now, and Ukraine has signed bilateral agreements with as many as seven countries.
The Estonian delegation at the negotiations is headed by Undersecretary for Political Affairs Kyllike Sillaste-Elling and Ukraine is represented by Ihor Zhovka, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.
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