On May 15–16, Maryana Betsa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, is on a working visit to the Republic of Estonia to participate in the 19th Lennart Meri Conference in Tallinn.

On the eve of the conference, Maryana Betsa held bilateral meetings with Estonian Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jonathan Vsevoiv, Estonian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Global Affairs Minna-Liina Lind, Estonian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic and Development Affairs Mariin Ratnik, and Estonian Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur.

The Deputy Minister expressed her sincere gratitude to Estonia for its unwavering and comprehensive support for Ukraine amid the ongoing aggressive war by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, as well as for its firm stance on defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state within its internationally recognized borders.

During a meeting with Jonathan Vsevoiv, Secretary General of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the parties focused on practical aspects of countering Russian aggression, as well as Russian disinformation narratives both in Estonia and globally, and emphasized the importance of further consolidating joint efforts to restore a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine.

Maryana Betsa expressed special gratitude to Estonia for its leadership role in promoting the Special Tribunal on the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, particularly for the fact that Estonia became the first country whose parliament approved the Expanded Partial Agreement on the Establishment of the Steering Committee of the Special Tribunal on the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

The interlocutors emphasized the need to further intensify sanctions pressure on the aggressor state and discussed the practical preparation of the European Union’s 21st sanctions package.

The parties paid significant attention to Ukraine’s European integration. Maryana Betsa stressed the importance of opening negotiation clusters as soon as possible.

During a meeting with Estonian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Minna-Liina Lind, Maryana Betsa thanked Estonia for its active participation in the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.

The parties separately discussed the importance of strengthening sanctions both against individuals involved in the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children and, in a broader context, of continuing to apply sanctions pressure on the aggressor state.

Maryana Betsa and Minna-Liina Lind exchanged views on coordinating further steps in international forums, including preparations for the upcoming session of the UN General Assembly and high-level events in New York.

During a meeting with Mariin Ratnik, Estonia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic and Development Affairs, Maryana Betsa highlighted efforts to restore Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and strengthen the resilience of Ukraine’s power grid ahead of the upcoming heating season amid ongoing Russian aggression. In this context, she also briefed the Estonian side on Ukraine’s current needs in the energy sector.

Maryana Betsa separately thanked Estonia for its significant contribution to the recovery of the Zhytomyr region, particularly the implementation of projects to rebuild social infrastructure facilities.

The parties discussed practical aspects of hosting the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2027 in Estonia.

The interlocutors paid special attention to opportunities for Estonia’s participation in projects of the Olena Zelenska Foundation, particularly initiatives in the areas of school meals and child support.

During her meeting with Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, Maryana Betsa expressed her gratitude to Estonia for its consistent and comprehensive defense support for Ukraine, as well as for Estonia’s contributions to the PURL program.

The parties also discussed the current security situation, Ukraine’s ongoing defense needs, and the importance of maintaining international pressure on Russia.

For his part, Hanno Pevkur reaffirmed Estonia’s continued military support for Ukraine.