President Karis recalled that Germany is the largest contributor to security in the European Union. “The turning point of security and defence policy – the Zeitenwende – formulated by the chancellor reflects Germany's growing contribution to security and defence policy, as well as to the defence of NATO's eastern flank. Security is indivisible and essential at NATO's borders in all points of the compass. Germany has a key role in ensuring European security and supporting Ukraine,” said President Karis. “This means we need a strong Germany, a strong France, UK, Netherlands, Finland, Estonia – the commitment of all EU and NATO members to maintain and enhance our joint security.”
President Karis and Chancellor Scholz discussed preparations for the NATO Summit in July and steps to reinforce European security. “Ukraine’s request to join NATO cannot be met with silence. Ukraine must not be left in the grey zone; in the future we will see Ukraine as a member of the alliance,” said President Karis. “It was the grey zones in Europe that made Russia's military aggression against Ukraine possible.”
When speaking about prosecuting Russia as an aggressor and a war criminal, the Estonian head of state noted that impunity has no place in today's world. “Russia is guilty of countless war crimes in Ukraine and accountability for them must be inevitable. Estonia supports the establishment of an international tribunal,” he added.
