Estonian president: We must support Ukraine, extension of grain transport deal

TALLINN – Estonian President Alar Karis late on Saturday evening held a phone call with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, with whom he talked about providing comprehensive support to Ukraine as well as the fact that keeping the port of Odessa open for the transport of goods is important and the Black Sea grain transport agreement must continue.

Karis and Guterres also spoke about Russia's activities undermining the UN and paralyzing the work of the UN Security Council, which have intensified in recent weeks.

Karis thanked Guterres for all the effort made in support of Ukraine and emphasized that the active involvement of the UN in solving the problems caused by Russian aggression is very important.

The Estonian head of state and UN secretary general also considered it important that the agreement on the export of grain from Ukrainian ports with a deadline of Nov. 19 be extended.

"Grain exports from Ukraine must continue, this agreement has already helped export more than 10 million tons of grain from Ukraine," Karis said.

The Estonian head of state expressed regret that Russia has started to threaten the UN and shamefully abuses the UN Security Council by spreading its propaganda and misinformation about so-called dirty bombs and biological laboratories.

"Estonia condemns the aggressor's threatening messages to the UN and fully supports the secretary general and his team in their work," the president said.