Kaja Kallas

My message at UAPeaceSummit opening plenary:
Sovereignty, territorial integrity and discrediting aggression as a tool of statecraft are crucial principles that must be upheld in case of Ukraine and globally.
These principles are essential for just and lasting peace.
That is why I’m concerned about so-called peace plans and initiatives that ignore the core UN Charter principles.
We cannot treat Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty as somewhat secondary.
Without these core principles we cannot achieve a just and lasting peace.
The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has lasted for ten years. For the bigger part of it, the world ignored it.
Some hoped back then and are hoping right now that territorial concessions to the aggressor would bring peace. But it will not.
History has proved that giving up territory for peace has too often led and will lead to further aggressions.
We must learn from our mistakes, or face a colossal human cost globally.
Many countries have suffered under colonial wars.
Russia isn't typically thought of as a colonial power. But it was and still is.
Estonia, my own country, went through Russia’s colonisation and occupation for almost half a century, up until 1991.
I grew up during the final years of Russia's occupation. My mother, deported to Siberia as a baby, suffered war crimes Russia inflicted upon far too many.
In theory, it was called peace, but it was peace on Russian terms – meaning mass atrocities, repressions, colonisation.
Witnessing the continuation of Russia’s colonialist landgrab policy today in Ukraine is a heartbreaking reminder of how history can repeat itself.
My call to you all: let us finally learn from our past mistakes.