‘Europe at a crossroads’ – Estonian parliament vice-president on Ukraine
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left the world and Europe at a crossroads – to lead according to human fundamental rights or to obey dictators, the first vice-president of the Estonian Parliament, Hanno Pevkur, said on Friday.
Pevkur was speaking at the Second World Forum for the Culture of Peace being held in Malta.
In his address, Pevkur mainly focused on the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has already led to more than one million refugees leaving the country.
“All world leaders must stand for peace and support Ukraine.”
Pevkur noted that Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Estonia's independence day.
“We woke up to a new world war, and when you see what (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is doing right now, a parallel can be drawn to Hitler’s concept of a Reich state,” he said.
“In just one week, more than 10,000 people were killed. This is a tragedy.”
Estonia is a member of NATO and shares a border with Russia. Pevkur's speech comes a day after an Estonian-owned cargo ship sunk off the coast of Ukraine in the Black Sea after an explosion.
Estonia, Pevkur said, is welcoming Ukrainian refugees and is sending aid to the country. He added it is important to ask...