PRESS RELEASE : Ukraine is grateful to Estonia for real support – President at a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 3 August 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Urmas Reinsalu, who is on his first foreign visit to our country.

The Head of State thanked the Minister for this signal of solidarity with Ukraine. At the same time, he noted that there is no need to prove support from Estonia, as Ukrainians know about it and appreciate it.

“We are grateful for the support of our sovereignty and territorial integrity. Real support, not words. Support with real steps,” said the President.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that during the visit of Urmas Reinsalu, a capsule was laid in the border town of Ovruch in the Zhytomyr region on the occasion of the start of the construction of the first kindergarten within the Fast Recovery Plan. This is the first of 15 objects of general infrastructure that the Zhytomyr Regional State Administration submitted for consideration by the Estonian government for assistance in the reconstruction of the region.

“All the reconstruction – we understand that it is a large amount of money, a lot of work and a long time, and the main work will be held after the end of the war. But there is emergency help that is needed now, before the beginning of the school year, the educational process. This is the construction and restoration of schools and kindergartens, universities, as well as homes for forcibly displaced persons,” the President noted.

He stated that Ukraine received confirmation of participation in the implementation of the reconstruction plan from many states, but Estonia was the first to start implementing the project.

“I want to thank you for starting this process. This is the first occasion for us. We are grateful your country started this work. I am grateful to the government of Estonia and Estonians,” added Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The President separately reminded that this is not the only case when Estonia is the first to provide support to Ukraine. It was one of the first states that supported Ukraine in the matter of providing weapons.

“This is the most important priority on the battlefield today. And this was especially tangible at the very beginning of the war, when the world was not yet united by its help. But there were several countries that helped from the first day,” he said.

In addition, Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance for Ukraine of Estonia’s consistent support for the sanctions policy against the aggressor country, as well as for the European integration course of our country.