According to Mihkelson, Russia has no desire to end military activities, and even the efforts of the United States have not stopped Russia for a single day. “Now is the decisive moment when the pressure on Russia must be increased – negotiations will only be on the table if Russia is pressured into this,” he said. “We know what it means to lose independence. And we also know that not every kind of peace is just or lasting.”

Speaking of the NATO Summit to be held in Ankara at the beginning of July, Mihkelson said that it was important for Estonia to achieve the best possible results at the summit through a strong and united message. “It is crucial that the summit demonstrated very strong unity among the Allies: that Article 5 is firm and no one can divide us. It is also important how quickly the defence spending of the Allies reaches the desired level,” he said.

Mihkelson thanked Türkiye for strengthening collective defence and for participating in the Baltic air policing mission. Issues of defence cooperation between Estonia and Türkiye, including the state of defence procurements and collaboration between defence industry companies, were also addressed at the meeting. The discussions also covered parliamentary cooperation, the development of trade, cultural relations and tourism, the situation in the Middle East, and developments in Armenia.

In addition to Mihkelson, members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Eerik-Niiles Kross and Luisa Värk also attended the meeting.

The delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Türkiye is in Tallinn to attend the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Parliaments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which takes place today and tomorrow. The security situation and changes in the international order, as well as further support for Ukraine and preparations for the NATO Summit will be discussed at the meeting. The delegations will also visit the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service, where they will discuss the developments in the security situation, and cybersecurity company CybExer Technologies.

Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
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Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Mihkelson: Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine will not end with ordinary negotiations

During the visit, the delegations will also visit the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service, where they will discuss the developments in the security situation, and cybersecurity company CybExer Technologies.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson and members of the Committee Ester Karuse, Eerik-Niiles Kross and Luisa Värk will attend the meeting on behalf of the Riigikogu.

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Foreign Affairs Committees of the parliaments of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Türkiye meet in Tallinn

During their visit, the chairs of the committees will meet with several members of the U.S. Congress including James Risch, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and Keith Self, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe. The delegates will also participate in the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio’s Hearing in front of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The delegation will also have meetings with current and former representatives of the National Security Council, including Special Assistant to the President Charles McLaughlin and former US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg. In addition, the members of parliaments will meet with representatives from the Department of State and the Department of Defense, diplomats, and representatives from leading think tanks.

In addition to Mihkelson, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Polish Sejm Paweł Kowal, Chair of the Defence Committee of the Finnish Parliament (Eduskunta) Heikki Autto and former Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė will participate in the visit.  The visit is being organized by the Casimir Pulaski Foundation, a Polish think tank that also organizes the prestigious Warsaw Security Forum.

After the visit of the committee chairs, on Thursday, Mihkelson will also participate in meetings in the House of Representatives organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), an inter-parliamentary association established to coordinate the China policies of democratic countries.

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
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Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Mihkelson is participating in a joint visit to the US by the heads of committees from NATO’s Eastern flank

Mihkelson warned that it was not possible to end Russia’s war of aggression by simply sitting down at the negotiations table. “Russia is not ready to accept any agreement that would bring us closer to a fair and lasting peace. We are at a stage where Russia only recognises power.” He added that the West had so far not done enough to pressurise Russia into ending the war.

The only solution that Mihkelson can see is to remain united, support Ukraine, and turn on the pressure on Russia, both by enhancing sanctions as well as increasingly isolating Russia on the international stage. “The next planned European sanctions package, which includes a total ban on marine services to vessels transporting Russian oil, would have a huge impact on Russia,” he said.

Mihkelson also puts great emphasis on the message sent by NATO at the next summit in Ankara. “We want to see Western allies support Ukraine much more. Estonia’s defence expenditure in the foreseeable future exceeds five percent of the GDP and every year we are allocating at least 0.25 % of our GDP to give military support to Ukraine. If all the allies did the same, Ukraine would be in a much better position,” he said.

Mihkelson also emphasised the importance of continued US presence in Europe. Other topics at the meetings included defence procurements, situation in the Middle East as well as the Indian and Pacific Ocean regions, Chinese influence, and developments in Russia.

During its two-day visit to Estonia, the delegation of the House of Representatives also met with the Estonian President, Minister of Defence, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and representatives of the Estonian Navy Command.

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Mihkelson: Pressure on Russia must be increased to end the war

The meeting, held in a new format, was convened by Bruno Fuchs, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the French National Assembly, and Mihkelson also participated in its founding meeting at the end of last year.

The chairs of the foreign affairs committees of European countries will discuss support for Ukraine and the strengthening of European security at an all-day meeting today. Europe’s strategic autonomy and how to further strengthen cooperation between European national parliaments will also be under discussion.

After the meeting, Mihkelson will travel to Vilnius to participate in the spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, starting this Friday, together with other members of the Estonian delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. From the Riigikogu, Head of the Delegation Raimond Kaljulaid and member Urmas Reinsalu will also participate in the work of the Assembly.

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Mihkelson will participate in a meeting of the Chairs of European foreign affairs committees in Paris

The delegations of Foreign Affairs Committees will also visit Latvia’s eastern border to get an overview of the border situation and the construction of the Baltic Defence Line. In addition to the delegation of Foreign Affairs Committees, representatives of Latvia’s Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces, and Border Guard will participate in the meeting.

The Estonian delegation to the meeting consists of Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Marko Mihkelson and members of the Committee Ester Karuse and Henn Põlluaas.

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
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Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Baltic Foreign Affairs Committees discuss strengthening security of the region in Latvia

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson said that the discussions at the joint sitting of Riigikogu committees had been substantive and frank and had focussed on Ukraine. “Estonia as a border country is well aware of the situation. We recognise that in order to achieve a just and lasting peace, it is necessary to continue with supporting Ukraine and exerting pressure on Russia. Only when the aggressor realises that continuing the war will not bring the desired result, it will be ready to hold real negotiations. We cannot begin talks with Russia in the near future, but Europe can work towards this goal and continue to strengthen its own security,” Mihkelson said.

At the sitting, Kallas gave an overview of current issues in the European Union’s foreign and security policy, noting that the greatest attention was currently focused on Ukraine and the Middle East.

Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
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Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Riigikogu committees discussed foreign policy with High Representative of the EU Kaja Kallas

In February, the Riigikogu became the first parliament to approve the Council of Europe agreement establishing the Management Committee of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, and a month later, the convention establishing the International Claims Commission for Ukraine was ratified. Hussar called on other countries to ratify these agreements as soon as possible.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson highlighted the role of the Council of Europe in defending law and justice in Europe. “If we want to restore peace and stability in Europe, we must do everything in our power to ensure that crimes of aggression do not go unpunished,” he said. According to him, the visit of the Secretary General is extremely important, as it takes place before the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers meeting, which will be held in Moldova at the end of this week, and where a resolution to approve the establishing of the Management Committee of the Special Tribunal is expected to be adopted, thereby taking a step forward in the establishment of the Special Tribunal.

Mihkelson pointed out that Russia’s strategic objectives had not changed, therefore Europe must do even more than before to help Ukraine achieve victory. “Today we can be more optimistic than a few months ago, because Ukraine is fighting bravely, we are supporting them, and following the elections in Hungary, Europe is more united, but we have not done enough,” he noted, adding that therefore it was necessary to increase pressure on Russia and support for Ukraine right now.

According to Mihkelson, Ukraine’s victory and Russia’s defeat would create the conditions for the emergence of a free, united Europe that respects the principles of the rule of law, offering new hope not only to Ukraine but also to Belarus and Georgia. “A defeat in a war of aggression could also give rise to a glimmer of hope in Russia that a society which takes responsibility for its crimes and renounces imperialism might one day, in the distant future, rejoin the European legal community,” he said.

Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
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Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Hussar and Mihkelson emphasized the importance of holding Russia to account

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Marko Mihkelson underlined the importance of active diplomacy alongside defence investments in the National Security Concept. “We must strengthen the narrative of victory among our allies, because only a decisive defeat of Russian imperialism in Ukraine will create the conditions for restoring lasting peace in Europe and, with it, strengthening our own security,” he said.

The National Security Concept of Estonia was prepared by the Government, and describes the deteriorated security environment, the principles of Estonia’s security policy, and the actions necessary to counter threats and mitigate risks in five areas: social cohesion and civil protection, economic security and essential services, internal security, military defence and international activity. Among other things, the document emphasizes that Estonia’s military defence expenditure must amount to at least five per cent of GDP, and state funding must be used to maintain the capabilities necessary for fulfilling national defence tasks and to address the most significant non-military capability shortfalls.

At today’s joint sitting of the National Defence Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu, Prime Minister Kristen Michal gave an overview of the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Approval of “The National Security Concept of Estonia”” (908 OE). The National Defence Committee moved unanimously to include the Draft Resolution in the agenda of the 19 May plenary sitting and to conclude its first reading.

The Riigikogu will decide on the approval of the National Security Concept at two readings. Last National Security Concept was approved by the Riigikogu at the beginning of 2023.

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
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karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: New framework document on Estonia’s security policy will be submitted to the Riigikogu

The two-day conference Defence24 Days focuses on security situation in Europe and on NATO’s eastern flank, regional cooperation and the strengthening of allied relations, the developing of defence industries and using new technologies on battlefield. Heads of state, security and foreign policy experts, and representatives from the defence sector from around the world participate in the event.

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Mihkelson attends defence and security conference in Poland