Prime Minister Kallas: ammunition procurement for Ukraine shows that Estonia’s voice is being heard

Prime Minister Kaja Kallas remarked that Ukraine had repeatedly requested more prompt defence support from Europe, most recently during a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and the heads of state and government of the EU in Brussels in February. "That is why, at our last summit, I proposed for the EU to jointly procure ammunition for Ukraine," she said. "It is the quickest and most effective way in which we can provide immediate practical help to the Ukrainians on the battlefield."

Prime Minister Kallas said she was pleased that final approval had been given to the decision today enabling the plan to go ahead. "Over the next 12 months the EU will be supplying Ukraine with one million rounds of 155 mm artillery ammunition," she explained. "The fact that the plan was enacted in little more than a month shows EU's enduring dedication, intention, and ability to act promptly and flexibly for the benefit of Ukraine. It also shows that Estonia's voice is being heard and that the proposals we put forward hold weight."

The Estonian head of government noted that in addition to supporting Ukraine, the EU's decision would also send a clear signal to the European defence industry, with new orders reinvigorating production. "That is also important in terms of boosting Europe's defence capabilities more broadly, because we are living at a time where we all need to invest more in our defence," she added.

The heads of state and government also discussed bringing the Russian leadership to justice for its crimes. "We have to break the endless cycle of Russia's aggression," Prime Minister Kallas urged. "This can only be done by holding Russia and its leaders account for the war crimes and crime of aggression. Crime of aggression is a crime committed by the Russian leadership, and no one can be immune from prosecution. We must establish a special court for this purpose, since the investigation of the crime of aggression is not within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. The arrest warrant issued by the ICC is nevertheless a clear step and confirmation not only that those who have committed these crimes will have their day in court, but also that no one is untouchable - not even the head of state of a permanent member of the UN Security Council."

Also discussed during the summit were the steps that need to be taken to continue to raise the cost of the war for Russia. "We have seen that Russia's revenue from oil and gas has significantly decreased," the Estonian head of government remarked. "The EU embargo on Russian oil and oil products has played a part in that, as have the price caps set on them as decided by the Member States of the EU and the G7 in December and February. But we must reduce Russia's ability to finance this war even further. We agreed in the EU to regularly review the price caps. It is Estonia's view that now is the time to do so. We must convince the G7 nations to do likewise so that we all lower the caps."

Discussing sanctions, Prime Minister Kallas noted that effective implementation is vital. "To counteract the circumvention of sanctions via third countries we need the sanctions to be better implemented," she advised. During the summit the Estonian head of government also raised the need to continue to look for ways of utilising frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine.

An exchange of thoughts with UN Secretary-General António Guterres took place at the start of the discussions on Ukraine, mainly on the topics of food security, the exporting of Ukrainian grain and migration solidarity lanes. Prime Minister Kallas called on Secretary-General Guterres to contribute in the UN to the establishment of the special tribunal for the crime of aggression.

The heads of state and government at the summit also gained an overview of Ukraine's EU accession process, with a joint statement being issued in recognition of the country for its reforms and achievements to date.

The conclusions reached about Ukraine at the summit can be found online at https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/03/23/european-council-conclusions-on-ukraine/

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