Prime Minister of Estonia Kristen Mihal emphasized that supporting Ukraine does not worsen the prosperity of his country, and the economic uncertainty is linked to Russia’s aggressive actions.
In his speech, he outlined his stance on the role of aid to Ukraine for Europe’s economy and highlighted the real risks posed by the neighbor’s aggressive policy.
In Ukraine, people remain without electricity; they are not sitting in warm rooms as we are now; they may not have water, they may not have heating. These people are fighting. And the least you can do as a sign of solidarity is to show it at least through symbols if you currently have no means to help with money or weapons
– Kristen Mihal
The head of government acknowledged that Estonia’s economy has faced tough moments in recent years. However, he stressed: the main factor driving the crisis is Russia’s actions.
It was Russia that affected our economy. This uncertainty was caused not by defending Ukraine, but by Russia’s actions
– Kristen Mihal
Context and Implications for the Economy
Estonia clearly understands the nature of the threat from Russia and its impact on economic processes in the region. According to the head of government, Russian propaganda about the supposed successful development of the Russian Federation does not reflect reality and is an attempt to reinterpret the facts.
Russia is our aggressive neighbor. If we ourselves were forced to fight, we would also want to be supported. Even if it’s just with a kind word, if nothing else is possible
– Kristen Mihal
According to Estonia’s leader, the main response to these challenges is the consolidation of society and the steady support of partners in Europe, without inflated expectations of rapid financial growth, but with concrete actions to strengthen the region’s stability and security – because the uncertainty in the world economy is largely driven by Russia’s actions.