The Power Within: The Kyiv Independent’s first-ever magazine. Be among the first to get it.

pre-order now
Skip to content
Edit post

Zelensky meets with Estonian Prime Minister in Zhytomyr Oblast

by The Kyiv Independent news desk April 24, 2023 8:27 PM 2 min read
President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas in Zhytomyr Oblast on April 24. (Photo: President's Office)
This audio is created with AI assistance

President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas in Zhytomyr Oblast on April 24, the President's Office reported on April 24.

"If every leader and every state were equally conscientious about protecting our common freedom on the continent, Russia's aggression would have already been defeated without question," Zelensky told Kallas, praising Estonia's ongoing support of Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

According to the President's Office, Zelensky also thanked Kallas for Estonia's assistance in the treatment and rehabilitation of Ukrainian soldiers after they were injured on the frontline, particularly those in need of prosthetics.

Estonia has also provided a third mobile military hospital for Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline.

Cybersecurity, Ukraine's post-war reconstruction, and increasing sanctions against Russia were some of the other topics discussed by Zelensky and Kallas.

Zelensky and Kallas' meeting took place in Zhytomyr Oblast because it is where Estonia has become the first ally to begin directly aiding Ukraine in the reconstruction of its infrastructure, the President's Office wrote. According to Zelensky, this step can become "an example" for other allies.

"I am confident that we will do a lot together. Today, I raised the issue of structuring the reconstruction assistance, including the establishment of an appropriate representative office here in the Zhytomyr Oblast," Zelensky said.

Kallas went on to emphasize that providing Ukraine with weapons, ammunition, and training for its military should continue on a sufficient scale to ensure that Ukraine wins the war.

"We believe in your victory. We believe in a prosperous Ukraine with liberal democracy, a free market economy and membership in the Euro-Atlantic community. Your struggle, your sacrifices have clearly shown that the way to peace is to eliminate gray areas in European security," Kallas said.

The two leaders also discussed the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius this July, with Zelensky saying that "now is the time when the (military) alliance needs to make ambitious decisions," regarding Ukraine's membership. Kallas signed a joint declaration expressing Estonia's support for Ukraine's future in both NATO and the EU.

Estonian Defense Minister: ‘Russian army has not changed in 100 years’
Estonia, a country of 1.4 million people bordering Russia, is one of the most vocal supporters of Ukraine. It’s also one of the West’s front line states facing an increasingly aggressive Russia. Before Russia launched its all-out war, Estonia was among the handful of countries that provided Ukraine…

News Feed

5:30 AM

Trump says he may meet Putin 'shortly' after May Middle East visit.

Despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations, Trump and Putin have yet to have direct contact, communicating only through their officials. Trump's last in-person encounter with his Russian counterpart was during the 2018 Helsinki Summit during the U.S. president's first term.
8:08 PM

Ukrainians react to US proposal of recognizing Crimea as Russian.

The U.S. media outlet Axios reported on April 23 that the U.S. President Donald Trump administration's final proposal for ending the Russia-Ukraine war included the U.S. de jure recognizing Russia's annexation of Crimea and de facto recognizing its control of other occupied Ukrainian territories. We asked Kyiv residents for their reactions to the U.S. proposal.
7:21 PM  (Updated: )

Trump says 'nobody is asking' Ukraine to recognize Crimea as Russian.

"Nobody is asking (President Volodymyr) Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory, but if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?" U.S. President Donald Trump wrote.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.