Rõivas, Pentus-Rosimannus reaffirm support for Ukraine in Kyiv trip
Estonian Foreign Minister Keit Pentus-Rosimannus said at a meeting with her counterpart Pavlo Klimkin in Kyiv that Estonia will continue to help Ukraine in international communication and in pushing through reforms.
“The security of Ukraine is important in the context of wider European security. Estonia is a resolute supporter of Ukraine in international organizations, where we stand for one thing – that an independent Ukraine can decide its future itself and move towards a Western model of society,” she said.
She added that the EU must stick together and demand Russia keep its promises from the Minsk Protocol and accept Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Estonian PM Taavi Rõivas said at a meeting with Ukrainian PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk and President Petro Poroshenko that the EU will continue with its current policy towards Russia until the situation in Ukraine imporves and so far, Russia has not met neccessary criteria for mitigating sanctions.
Pentus-Rosimannus said Ukraine must press ahead with political, constitutional and economic reforms despite the conflict. She said Estonia supports loosening current visa restrictions and Ukraine's push towards the West.
Estonia donated more than one million euros to humanitarian and development causes in Ukraine in 2014 and will continue to help develop its e-services and advise on reforms, as well as give medical care to those who have suffered in the conflict, she said.
“We also see cooperation potential in helping with agriculture, health care and rail road reforms,” she said.
Rõivas and Pentus-Rosimannus will return to Estonia on Wednesday evening.
Editor: J.M. Laats