Ukraine, Estonia Agree to Expand Defense Cooperation During Svyrydenko Visit

Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko met with Estonia’s top leadership during a visit to Tallinn, where the two countries agreed to strengthen defense cooperation and expand collaboration in the field of unmanned systems.

Svyrydenko met with Estonian President Alar Karis, Speaker of Parliament Lauri Hussar and Prime Minister Kristen Michal, according to a statement she published on Facebook.

The sides agreed to enhance defense cooperation, particularly in the area of drone technologies, and maintain regular exchanges of experience in responding to security challenges.

“Estonia continues to support our energy sector, its contribution to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund has already exceeded 2.6 million euros,” Svyrydenko said.

She added that Ukraine is prepared to share its own experience in energy decentralization and managing the energy system under difficult conditions.

Svyrydenko described Estonia as a reliable ally on Ukraine’s path toward EU membership and thanked Tallinn for supporting an EU loan for Ukraine.

The officials also discussed further increasing pressure on Russia, including work on the EU’s 21st sanctions package and efforts to counter Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.

The return of Ukrainian children illegally taken to Russia was another topic of discussion. The sides addressed cooperation within the Bring Kids Back UA initiative.

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Svyrydenko also noted that Estonia became the first country whose parliament ratified the agreement on establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

At the same time, work is continuing on the creation of a compensation mechanism, she said.

“Thank you for participating in the reconstruction of Ukraine and for the projects already underway in the Zhytomyr region,” Svyrydenko said. “Ahead of us is the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdansk, where we will expand our cooperation.”