PM Kaja Kallas: Estonia has provided EUR 200 mln worth of support to Ukraine this year

Estonia has provided humanitarian and defense assistance in the extent of 200 million euros to Ukraine this year, mostly defense assistance and humanitarian aid. “Foremost defense-related assistance such as defense equipment, ammunition, medical supplies, food packs,” Prime Minister Kaja Kallas explained. Estonia has also provided equipment for setting up a temporary shelter in Ukraine.

“We have helped Ukraine on the political, economic and military level, and have actually been doing so for a long time, when other countries did not yet consider this aggression possible,” Kallas added. In addition, the Estonian government has allocated 1.3 million euros to support displaced people arriving to Estonia.The money will be given to the Ministry of Social Affairs and comes from government reserves. It will be used for initial arrangements in taking in refugees.

Ukrainian citizens, their spouses and direct dependents of all ages will not be subject to the restrictions put in place for those crossing the border, including the requirement to present a vaccination certificate. In addition to spouses and dependents, the Police and Border Guard Board may allow others, such as partners, into Estonia from Ukraine on humanitarian grounds to keep families together. Government decided to open checkpoints at the Estonian-Latvian border to receive a better overview of the arrivals and provide displaced people with the information about basic services.

“The temporary re-establishment of border controls will help us to ensure better security. We can also maintain contact with Ukrainians arriving here, so that we can advise them later as well and give instructions and recommendations. Our task is to do everything in our power to help people fleeing the horrors of war,” Elmar Vaher, Director General of the Police and Border Guard Board explained.