Estonian parlt deputy speaker: Victory necessary to stop pressure on European economy

TALLINN – Deputy speaker of the Estonian parliament Toomas Kivimagi said at a meeting with Jiri Drahos, first vice president of the Czech Senate, and a delegation of the Czech Senate on Monday that Ukraine must win the war, because victory would end the pressure on the European economy.

At the meeting, the deputy speakers thanked each other's countries for their contribution to helping Ukraine in the war of aggression waged by Russia, Riigikogu spokespeople said.

Kivimagi stressed that the most important thing for Estonia is that Ukraine wins the war with Russia.

"Ukraine is also fighting for our freedom. I thank the Czech country, which has kindly received Ukrainian war refugees -- we are in a similar situation as you," Kivimagi told his Czech colleague.

The deputy speaker emphasized that it is important to win the war as soon as possible also because it has affected and strongly affects the entire European economy and people are acutely feeling the negative effects of high inflation and a deficit state budget.

Kivimagi said that, unlike the Czech Republic, Estonia shares a border with Russia, and therefore we feel the effects of the war more directly. For example, in Estonia, the fact that citizens of third countries have the right to vote in local elections in Estonia is a cause for concern.

"It is difficult for me to accept that Putin's voters can also vote in Estonia. I consider it right to suspend the right of Russian citizens to vote in Estonian elections," he said.

The vice president of the Czech Senate affirmed that aid to Ukraine must continue until the war is won and Ukraine's territorial sovereignty is restored.

The delegation of the Czech Senate is on a visit to Estonia until Thursday and will also meet with the Estonia-Czech parliamentary group of the Riigikogu. The delegation will also visit the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (CCDCOE), the National Library, media companies and educational institutions, meet with representatives of the government, the president and the Academy of Sciences.