Estonian formin to Armenian president: Ukraine must win the war

TALLINN – Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said at a meeting with Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan in Tallinn on Tuesday that Ukraine must win the war in order to ensure a rules-based world order.

Reinsalu and Khachaturyan discussed bilateral relations between Estonia and Armenia, Russia's war in Ukraine and the strengthening of ties between the two countries as well as between Armenia and the European Union, spokespeople for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Speaking about the security situation in the South Caucasus, Reinsalu said that Estonia considers it important to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in the region.

"Estonia supports the continuation of peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and we are ready to contribute to it in any possible way," the minister said.

In the conversation, Reinsalu and Khachaturyan focused on Russia's war in Ukraine and talked about the changed security situation in the world.

Reinsalu stressed that Ukraine's victory and Russia's continued international isolation are key to securing a rules-based world order.

Reinsalu commended Armenia for the work done in implementing democratic reforms in the fields of justice and education and in fulfilling the partnership agreement with the European Union.

He added that Estonia is prepared to share its knowledge and experience with Armenia fully in order to support Armenia in strengthening its relations with the EU.

"For this purpose, this year we are heavily involved in, among other things, the Eastern Partnership program and bilateral development cooperation in order to bring the partner countries closer to the EU," Reinsalu said.

The extensive and expanded partnership agreement between the EU and Armenia, which aims at economic, social, green and educational development cooperation, entered into force in 2021 and Estonia was the first country to ratify it.

Reinsalu said that the relations between Estonia and Armenia remain good and stable in these difficult times.

"I conveyed to the president of Armenia my desire to give an additional boost to the bilateral relations between our countries following the pandemic," the minister said.

"Our joint activities so far have been successful, among other fields, in IT, space technology, education and culture," he added.