The President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar is currently visiting the United Kingdom. At his meetings in London, he emphasised the need to continue supporting Ukraine and to engage in an even closer cooperation to offset the threat from Russia.
Hussar said that Estonia and the UK have enjoyed long-standing good relations and close cooperation, which have only become stronger over time. He thanked the United Kingdom for its contribution to strengthening the defence of Estonia and the NATO eastern flank, and gave his assurance that Estonia would remain a committed ally to NATO.
Hussar emphasised the need to continue supporting Ukraine in the war of aggression launched by Russia, and to keep raising the price of the aggression for Russia. Among other things, he pointed out that the Riigikogu approved today the Council of Europe agreement on the advance team to establish the special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. This makes Estonia the first country to approve the agreement in the parliament.
Hussar stressed that Russia’s imperialist ambitions had not changed. “In Europe, we must very clearly recognise the threat emanating from Russia and cooperate even further among ourselves,” he said at the meetings in the British parliament.
author: Erik Peinar
The parties discussed the need to improve Europe’s defence capability, including by increasing NATO defence spending, and develop cooperation between defence industries. Another topic was relations with the USA.
Hussar met the Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle and Lord Speaker Michael Forsyth. He also met the Foreign Affairs Committee and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Estonia. In the evening, Hussar attended the Estonian Independence Day Reception for the local Estonian community in our Embassy.
The President of the Riigikogu is accompanied on the visit by the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson, Chair of the Estonia – Great Britain Parliamentary Friendship Group Yoko Alender, and member of the Estonia – Great Britain Parliamentary Friendship Group Reili Rand.
Photos(Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)
Source: Parliament of Estonia
