“Soberly assessed what is happening”: Estonian President said Europe is tired of Ukraine

Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid said that Europe is tired of Ukraine, because they do not see progress in problem areas.

“And the reason for fatigue is that we have been giving the same advice for many years and don’t see Ukraine becoming less corrupt, the economy less oligarchic, and so on,” Kaliulide said in an interview with European Truth.

In addition, she said, Estonia is aware that even if Ukraine can advance in the fight against corruption, some EU countries will still “give up the interests of Kiev for the sake of economic relations with Moscow”.

At the same time, Kersti Kaljulaid assured that a visa-free regime with Ukraine will not be canceled, despite statements by the head of the Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs, the leader of the Conservative People’s Party (EKRE) Mart Helme. Earlier, he expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that labor migrants from Ukraine “take away work” from Estonians, lowering labor costs. He also ordered to find out whether it is possible to abolish a visa-free regime for Ukrainians so as not to allow them to enter the country uncontrollably.

According to the Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs, about 80% of foreigners who received permission for short-term work in the republic in 2019 are Ukrainians. In addition, about 64% of the 10 thousand illegal immigrants in Estonia are also citizens of Ukraine. This opinion was expressed in the Estonian Employers Union.

“But at the same time, we must speak frankly: many Ukrainians come to Estonia with temporary work permits, and we, of course, need to think about how to guarantee the rights and opportunities for such Ukrainians, who, I emphasize, live with us temporarily. Since the right to permanent residence in Estonia is very difficult to obtain, ”said Kaljulaid.

"Demonstrative motives"

According to the chairman of the Federation Council Commission on Information Policy Alexey Pushkov, Kalyulayd "soberly evaluated what is happening in Ukraine."

“In France, Italy, Austria and others exclude the possibility of Ukraine joining the EU. And now in Tallinn they say that they are tired of Ukraine. Demonstrative motives, ”the senator wrote on Twitter.

The Estonian President soberly assessed what was happening in Ukraine, reporting that Europe was tired of the lack of progress in this country. In France, Italy, Austria and others exclude the possibility of Ukraine joining the EU. And now in Tallinn they say that they are tired of Ukraine. Demonstrative motives.

A similar assessment was made by the political scientist Ivan Meziuho, who called them “symptomatic” in an interview with RT. According to him, the appearance of such an opinion in Ukraine means that "Kiev is losing its (supporters. - RT) on the issue of integration."

“Of course, the EU is dissatisfied with the level of corruption and lawlessness in Ukraine. The EU systematically allocates money to Ukraine for various reform programs and grants. In fact, five years after the 2014 coup d'etat, reforms in Ukraine failed, ”Mezyuho notes.

Recall that in early September 2019, the European Council on Foreign Relations research center gave recommendations to the European Union on how to help Ukraine reform the judicial system, law enforcement agencies and special services. Brussels is encouraged to exert influence on Kiev in order to force it to complete the transformation.

The political scientist is confident that Kaljulaid expressed not only the opinion of Estonia, but also the entire European community, which is tired of the "populism of the Ukrainian authorities."

“Unprofitable solidarity”

Dissatisfaction with Ukraine appeared at a time when they were talking about European integration in Kiev, said Vladimir Bruter, an expert at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies.

“I think Europe is tired of Ukraine back in 2013-2014. Everything that happened afterwards happened through breaking ... Obviously, this solidarity was artificial from the very beginning and Europe was unprofitable, ”he emphasized.

Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadim Pristayko in an interview with the German newspaper Welt said that it is difficult for Western partners of Kiev to support sanctions against Russia.

“Western sanctions are imperfect, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for our Western partners to support them, nevertheless, they harm the Russian economy,” he said.

As Mezujo noted, the statement is due to the fact that interest in Ukraine in the world is gradually dying away.

“I think this statement should be regarded as an act of despair. I think that the task of the new Minister of Foreign Affairs is to remind his country to the international community and the so-called Western partners, ”he concluded.

According to Bruter, the statements of the President of Estonia will not change the situation.

“I think the scenario will be similar to the current one. No one in Europe dares to change the vector on their own. Europe does not know how to independently change the vectors of its even the near future, ”he said.

According to him, the Estonian president "understands that everything is going wrong."

“But neither she nor the more powerful European countries understands how to do it,” he concluded.