Speeches

Today, we want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, and everyone who still uses Russia’s key airports: Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe. Ukraine does not threaten civilian aviation as such – not a single civilian aircraft.

We had a detailed discussion with the Prime Minister of Ukraine and the diplomatic team about activities planned for September. A lot is planned, and all our meetings and negotiations must be felt here in Ukraine – in our defense capabilities and through additional energy support packages for Ukraine.

We are doing everything to ensure that war doesn’t remain the only option for what comes next. Importantly, America shares many of our views on the situation both on the front and with the strikes.

Since yesterday evening and throughout the day today, I have been receiving reports on the situation in the Kyiv region – in the village of Myla, Bucha district – where detonation began following a Russian strike. A terrible situation and terrible negligence on the part of those who stored explosives right next to people.

Our National Legend ceremony this year highlights a very important, key – in fact fundamental – pillar of statehood. It highlights the truth – about us, our history, our fight. This truth is simple: Ukraine existed, Ukraine exists, Ukraine will exist.

Thank you for the information – and for the necessary tone of the conversation with Russia. Russia must end its war, and all the necessary conditions must be created to make that happen.

When you are a neighbor of Russia, you need to cooperate as closely as possible with all your other neighbors, with all other free nations. This is a key prerequisite for reliable defense and, more broadly, a prerequisite for development.

The second important matter today was our discussion with commanders here in the Zaporizhzhia sector. There will be more of the necessary equipment. This concerns UGVs – decisions are needed to increase both production and procurement. There will also be decisions on a more systematic approach to mid-range strikes.

President Karis was here in Kyiv two days, exactly two days, before Russia’s full-scale invasion. Throughout the war, we have met with the President many times and reached agreements – always. I am grateful to Estonia for the level of cooperation we have achieved and for its unwavering principled stance in assessing Russian aggression and in our joint European efforts in defense. 

Right now, it is the resilience of Ukraine, the resilience of Ukrainians – our people – that carries the unique experience and the most relevant context. This resilience has endurance – serious endurance. Twelve years of Russia’s latest attempts to break Ukrainians. 1,643 days of full-scale war.