Estonian Prime Minister Kristjan Michal opened the NB8 Summit joint press conference in Tallinn by calling Ukraine a close partner and saying the Nordic-Baltic countries remain among Kyiv’s strongest supporters.
“Here we are among friends,” Michal said, welcoming President Volodymyr Zelensky to Estonia.
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He said Russia “will not win this war,” stressing that Moscow continues to target civilians and critical infrastructure in an effort to terrorize Ukrainians and destabilize European societies.
“These attacks are cruel and unacceptable,” Michal said. “We will help Ukraine achieve a just and lasting peace.”
The Estonian prime minister said the region would not accept any attempt to change borders by force, adding that “international law is not optional.”
Michal also said Ukraine belongs in both the European Union and NATO, and that Europe’s future security must be decided by Europeans together with Ukraine – “not by the Kremlin.”
He framed support for Ukraine as an investment in Europe’s own security, not simply assistance to Kyiv.
“Ukraine is not only defending itself. Ukraine is making Europe safer,” he said.
The Estonian prime minister said defense-industrial cooperation with Ukraine is now a strategic priority, adding that Europe has “much to learn from Ukraine” and must deepen cooperation between industries, innovators and armed forces.
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He said Nordic-Baltic countries would work with Ukraine on joint production, faster innovation and removing bureaucratic obstacles.
“Ukraine’s battlefield experience is helping Europe to become stronger, smarter and faster,” Michal said.
The Estonian leader also said the summit covered competitiveness, artificial intelligence, security and defense, with the goal of making the NB8 region “Europe’s strongest cross-border economic and innovation area.”
“The war in Ukraine has shown that innovation happens in weeks, not years. And we must move faster,” he said.
He also pointed to upcoming EU and NATO summits, saying the Nordic-Baltic countries must speak with a common voice.
“Russia hopes that time is on their side. Our task is to prove that is not so,” Michal concluded.
Earlier on Tuesday, Ukraine and Estonia signed a new defense cooperation declaration focused on military experience-sharing, defense industry cooperation, air defense and future work under the Drone Deal format.