General Debate of the UNGA 80th Session of the First Committee
Statement delivered by Rein Tammsaar, Permanent Representative of Estonia
New York, 10 October 2025
Thank you, Chair,
1. Allow me to congratulate you on assuming the Chairmanship of the 80th Session of the First Committee. I assure you of my delegation’s full support and cooperation. Estonia aligns itself with the statement of the European Union. In addition, I would like to make some remarks in my national capacity.
2. The First Committee takes place in an international security environment marked by high tensions and serious proliferation crises. The main threat to global peace and security continues to be Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. This war has brought immense human suffering, caused the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and led to grave humanitarian consequences. Russia’s actions are incompatible not only with the status and responsibilities of a Permanent Member of the Security Council, but also with those of any UN Member State. The only viable way forward is to increase collective international pressure on Russia to force them to just and lasting peace in Ukraine and to act in a way that is expected from a Permanent Member of the Security Council.
3. Estonia condemns the involvement of Iran, the DPRK and Belarus in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine in a strongest possible manner.
4. In addition, Russia has violated international law by seizing, militarizing and controlling Ukraine´s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe. Any damage, disruption to the plant’s operations or attempt to connect and integrate the plant into the Russian power grid can have catastrophic and far-reaching consequences endangering countless lives, contaminating vast areas with radiation, and causing long-term environmental, economic, and humanitarian devastation well beyond Ukraine’s borders.
5. As discussed during the Security Council emergency meeting on September 22, Russia’s recent grave violations of Estonian, Polish, and Romanian airspace mark a serious escalation. It is a stark reminder that Russia´s brinkmanship is reckless and its actions endanger the security of the entire region. The international community must stand united in demanding an end to such blatant violations to prevent further escalation and to safeguard international peace and security.
Chair,
6. The Treaty of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons remains the cornerstone of the global regime for nuclear disarmament, nonproliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Estonia deeply regrets that due to Russia´s opposition, the 10th Review Conference of the NPT could not achieve consensus on an outcome document. As we approach the 11th Review Conference, we call on all NPT States Parties to work together to implement and strengthen the Treaty, and enhance efforts to achieve its universalization.
7. Estonia supports all international efforts towards the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and urges all States, particularly the Annex II States, to sign and ratify the Treaty. Estonia supports starting negotiations on the Fissile-Material Cut-Off Treaty and calls on the nuclear weapon States to declare or maintain moratoria on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices.
8. We cannot discuss nuclear non-proliferation without addressing the reckless, irresponsible, and escalatory nuclear rhetoric, threats and signaling of Russia, as well as its announced deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus, in direct contradiction to its obligations under the NPT. By threatening nuclear use, de-ratifying the CTBT, violating the Budapest Memorandum, suspending its participation in the New START, lowering the threshold for nuclear use, and undermining the norms that have underpinned nuclear restraint for decades, Russia has demonstrated its utter disregard for the international non-proliferation and disarmament regime. We take note of Russia´s recent proposal to continue observing the central quantitative restrictions of the New START for one year after its expiration.
9. We also call on China to join future arms control agreements and to immediately take measures to improve transparency on its nuclear weapons and doctrine, refrain from further build-up, and to pursue risk reduction measures. We call on China to stop acting as a decisive enabler of Russia´s war of aggression against Ukraine. By ceasing all forms of material and political support to Russia’s war efforts and acting in full support of the UN Charter and international law, China can demonstrate its responsible stance as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Chair,
10. Iran’s continued lack of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency is deeply concerning and undermines confidence in the peaceful nature of its nuclear program. Iran must urgently and fully engage with the International Atomic Energy Agency, ensure transparency, and comply with its international obligations. We call on Iran to reverse its alarming nuclear trajectory and return to its commitments in the field of nuclear non-proliferation. We remind Iran that its support to Russia´s aggression against Ukraine makes them complicit in war crimes committed in Ukraine.
11. Estonia strongly condemns the DPRK’s continued development of its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, which threaten international and regional peace and security, and the transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia, which violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions and undermines the NPT. Russia has not been able to hide evidence of its growing dependence from large-scale arms purchases from the DPRK and their growing military cooperation. We call on the DPRK to return to compliance with the NPT and its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and to sign and ratify an Additional Protocol thereto.
12. Regarding Gaza, Estonia welcomes the agreement on the first phase of President Trump’s peace plan. At a time when the humanitarian situation is dire and political trust is at a low point, this new opportunity needs to be seized and momentum should be used to end violence, improve civilian lives, and revive a credible political process. We hope for the swift release of hostages and an end to hostilities. Lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians can only be achieved through a two-state solution. Estonia supports international efforts to make this possible.
13. To conclude, Estonia is determined to contribute to the global efforts to strengthen the international law and multilateralism with the UN at its core, including through implementation of existing disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation instruments.
Thank you, Chair.
