Ukraine stepping up border protection cooperation with Estonia

Ukraine and Estonia are stepping up border protection cooperation.

This was discussed at a meeting between Ukraine's Deputy Interior Minister Meri Akopyan and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Estonia to Ukraine Kaimo Kuusk, Security Policy Adviser to President of Estonia Liis Mure, and Deputy Head of Mission of the Estonian Embassy Margus Gering.

As the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine informs, the parties discussed the migrant crisis on Poland–Belarus border and ways of cooperation in case of further escalation. Ukraine's Deputy Interior Minister informed about the measures taken by the Ministry to strengthen the borders.

Akopyan said that the issue of border security is a priority for the Ukrainian authorities.

"We appreciate the political partnership with the Republic of Estonia and hope that the cooperation that has taken place between the two countries over the years will only improve. We are grateful to the Estonian partners for their constant and purposeful support aimed at developing the Ministry of Internal Affairs, reforming and strengthening it," the deputy minister said.

In turn, the Estonian partners offered their support in strengthening the security of Ukraine's borders. The parties also agreed to intensify cooperation between the ministries, especially in the field of cyber security and strategic communications.

According to the deputy minister, it is planned that National Police, National Guard, State Emergency Service, State Border Guard Service together with representatives of local administrations, Security Service of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine will take part in intersectoral crisis exercises related to national resilience in information security, crisis and strategic communication. The events will take place in Mariupol, Sumy, Kherson, Mykolayiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia cities.

In addition, in January 2022 it is planned to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and the International Center for Defense and Security of Estonia (ICDS) within the Estonia–Ukraine program "Resilient Ukraine".

The meeting participants focused on cooperation in intensifying strategic communications area. In particular, the partners confirmed their readiness to send an expert on strategic communications of the Ministry of the Interior of Estonia to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine for trainings and consultations.

As German newspaper Bild reported, citing its own sources in NATO and the security services, Moscow could try to carry out a new armed invasion of Ukraine in three stages.

Earlier, Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov said that the Russian invasion could take place in January-February in several directions: through sections of the eastern border (both government-controlled and non-government-controlled), as well as from Crimea and Belarus.

ol