95 MPs submit draft statement in support of Ukraine’s NATO membership

  • 2023-05-10
  • BNS/TBT Staff

TALLINN – Altogether 95 members of the Estonian parliament submitted for legislative proceedings in the parliament a draft statement on supporting Ukraine’s wish to join NATO as the only way to ensure the rules-based world order, lasting peace and the security of the democratic countries of Europe.

In the draft statement, the Riigikogu expresses determination to reinforce the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states in Europe and to achieve a lasting peace, and expresses its conviction that the politics of spheres of influence in Europe continues to pose a threat to the security of the continent. According to the draft statement, the Riigikogu proceeds from the goal set by NATO member states at the Bucharest Summit in 2008 that Ukraine will join the alliance, and takes into account the application for accession to NATO submitted by the government of Ukraine last year.

Ukraine submitted the official application to join NATO on Sept. 30 last year. According to the explanatory memorandum of the draft statement, Estonia, together with the other Baltic states, has always expressed its support to Ukraine in joining NATO and considers it necessary to plan concrete steps for Ukraine’s accession to the organization at the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius on July 11-12.

In the draft statement, the Riigikogu underlines the need to decisively strengthen the security architecture that has served the security of free and democratic Euro-Atlantic countries well, and expresses support for the people of Ukraine who are fighting for freedom. According to the draft statement, the Riigikogu also recognizes the fact that Ukraine’s victory over the Russian Federation, which is waging a war of aggression, and Ukraine’s subsequent accession to NATO constitute the only way to ensure the rules-based world order, lasting peace and the security of the democratic countries of Europe.

The draft statement says that the Riigikogu considers it vital to formulate the specific and unambiguous steps necessary for Ukraine’s rapid integration into NATO at the Vilnius summit, and to grant Ukraine an invitation to join the alliance.

The foreign affairs committee of the Riigikogu will discuss the sending of the draft statement submitted for debate and voting in the plenary assembly at its Thursday’s sitting.

Since the beginning of last year, the Riigikogu has adopted a total of five statements and one communication to condemn Russia’s activities and to express support to Ukraine. Most recently, on Feb. 22, the Riigikogu adopted a statement submitted by 94 members of the Riigikogu to mark the passing of a year from the beginning of the full-scale military aggression by the Russian Federation in Ukraine and to express their respect for the heroic people of Ukraine.