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Foreign Minister Tsahkna in Finland to Ukraine's new foreign minister: our strong partnership to ensure Ukraine's victory continues

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

06.09.2024

Today 6 September, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna was on a visit to Helsinki, where he met with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, Minister for European Affairs Joakim Strand, and Speaker of the Eduskunta Jussi Halla-aho. With his Finnish counterpart, Minister Tsahkna had a phone conversation with Ukraine's new foreign minister Andrii Sybiha.

In the conversation, Tsahkna reaffirmed Estonia's unwavering support for Ukraine and said he was convinced Estonia's excellent cooperation with the government of Ukraine would continue. "Ukraine's victory is in the interests of the entire democratic world and Estonia is doing everything possible to achieve this," Tsahkna told his new Ukrainian counterpart.

At bilateral meetings with the members of the Finnish government and the speaker of the parliament, Tsahkna underlined that Estonia and Finland shared many challenges in the fields of security and economy. At the same time, it easier to face them because Estonia and Finland agree on all major issues.

"Meeting with our Finnish colleagues, we never need to persuade each other on major issues; instead, we can immediately have in-depth discussions, make plans for the future and deepen our cooperation," Tsahkna noted.

He emphasised that helping Ukraine contributed to our own security.

"Russia is waging a brutal war against its neighbour Ukraine but at the same time, it is conducting hybrid operations against the West," Tsahkna said. "Yesterday, Estonia announced that members of Unit 29155 of Russia's military intelligence (GRU) have launched cyberattacks against Estonia with the aim of obtaining sensitive information and undermining the sense of security in our societies. Finland has experienced the weaponisation of migration."

Tsahkna said the most effective and simple way to resist Russia was to support Ukraine.

"Estonia has pledged to provide Ukraine with military aid worth 0.25 per cent of our GDP on an annual basis; we also consider it right to use frozen assets for the benefit of Ukraine and tighten sanctions against Russia," Tsahkna said.

The meetings also covered opportunities for closer economic cooperation between Estonia and Finland. "Estonia and Finland are close trading partners and boosting economic cooperation would contribute to the increased welfare of people in both countries," the foreign minister said.

Improving the region's competitiveness and cooperation in the European Union will also continue. Tsahkna commended the smooth cooperation between the agencies of the two countries in improving critical maritime infrastructure and working on establishing new connections.