In his missive to President Zelensky, the Estonian head of state recalled the decision the Ukrainian people made 31 years ago in choosing democracy and independence and starting a new chapter in the country’s history. “You were decisive then and have remained true to the choice you made at the time, for freedom and independence,” President Karis wrote. “Ukraine has not been swayed by external pressure or intervention. Today, exactly six months since the start of Russia’s aggression in your country, we here in Estonia are pondering: what price freedom? But freedom has no price. It is the ultimate privilege of any country and any nation, and only those who are prepared to fight for their freedom are worthy of it. We are in awe of the fortitude of the Ukrainian people, and of the bravery of your soldiers in defending their freedom and land and nation.”
President Karis added that not one of his meetings in Estonia or abroad has passed without the participants speaking about the situation in Ukraine and the importance of continued support for the courageous country. “My message is clear and simple,” he wrote: “for as long as this struggle lasts, for as long as injustice continues to reign, we cannot, and must not, allow ourselves to tire of the war. To date, Estonia has taken in more than 50,000 Ukrainian refugees. We will continue to provide military, economic and humanitarian aid and to back the imposition of hard-hitting sanctions on Russia as the aggressor in this conflict. I am gladdened that Estonians have opened their hearts to support Ukraine and its people in every way possible. I am convinced that standing against this barbaric war has brought our countries and peoples even closer together.”
To mark Ukrainian Independence Day, a flag-raising ceremony was held in front of the Office of the President of the Republic in Kadriorg with members of the local Ukrainian community and representatives of the Ukrainian embassy in attendance. The Khreshchatyk chamber choir from Kyiv performed the nation’s anthem and other Ukrainian songs.
