Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mariin Ratnik was in Kyiv on 24–25 March, where a meeting of the Ukraine Donor Platform took place, focusing on the state of Ukraine’s economy and the reforms needed to advance it and support accession to the European Union. In addition, Ratnik met Ihor Zhovkva and Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Heads of the Office of the President; Matthias Schmale, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine; Juan-Pedro Schaerer, Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation in Ukraine; and Anka Feldhusen, Ukraine’s Business Ombudsman.
In addition to military assistance, Estonia supports Ukraine significantly through the development of business contacts, the provision of humanitarian aid and the implementation of various reconstruction projects, all of which contribute to Ukraine’s recovery, development and accession to the European Union.
The Ukraine Donor Platform meeting focused on the needs of Ukraine’s economy and the implementation of reforms required for EU integration. “The main challenges in Ukraine’s reform process are strengthening the justice system, combating corruption, reinforcing the relevant institutions and improving the business environment,” Ratnik said. “As Ukraine continues to face a full-scale war, as demonstrated by Russia on 24 March with one of the most serious attacks since the beginning of the war, it is crucial for Ukraine to strengthen its economy and prepare for EU accession.” As part of the meeting, discussions were held with Ukrainian entrepreneurs and civil society representatives to better understand their concerns and needs.
“Approximately 400 Estonian companies export to Ukraine, and Ukraine is one of the priority countries for Estonia’s business diplomacy. To improve knowledge of the Ukrainian market, we are organising several business delegation visits to Ukraine again this year,” Ratnik said.
In a meeting with Business Ombudsman Anka Feldhusen, the role of her office in supporting Estonian companies entering the Ukrainian market was discussed. A business visit to Ukraine for companies in the defence industry and the energy and green technology sectors will take place next month.
“In addition to economic development, attention must be paid to society’s overall ability to cope with the impacts of the war. There remains a critical need for humanitarian assistance, particularly in frontline areas, where Estonia can also contribute. At the same time, it is increasingly important to integrate humanitarian aid into Ukraine’s social system, as no one can predict when the war will end,” Ratnik said at a meeting with the UN’s senior representative. In discussions with Deputy Head of the Office of the President Iryna Vereshchuk, the focus was on a comprehensive approach to security from the perspective of social cohesion, including the reintegration of veterans into society, where Estonia’s system serves as an example, encompassing defence, the economy, society, social issues and other aspects. “Estonia stands ready to share its experience in this area,” Ratnik said.
With Juan-Pedro Schaerer, Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation in Ukraine, Ratnik discussed the issue of deported Ukrainian children. According to various sources, Russia has forcibly relocated around 20,000 children, of whom a few thousand have been returned from Russia, including with the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Ratnik also commended the Red Cross for its important work in facilitating exchanges of prisoners of war between the two countries and in searching for and identifying missing persons.
Undersecretary Ratnik also met Ihor Zhovkva, diplomatic adviser to the President of Ukraine, with whom she discussed the current state of peace negotiations, the impact of the war in the Middle East on Ukraine, and Estonia’s preparations for hosting the international Ukraine Recovery Conference in 2027.
