UNGA80 First Committee regional disarmament and security cluster debate
Statement delivered by H.E. Rein Tammsaar, Permanent Representative of Estonia to the UN
New York, 28 October 2025
Thank you, Chair,
Estonia aligns itself with the statement of the European Union. In addition, I would like to make some remarks in my national capacity.
The European security architecture – founded on the rule of law and respect for states’ sovereignty and territorial integrity – is being severely undermined by Russia. Its illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine constitutes a direct violation of the principles of the UN Charter.
Regrettably, it must be constantly repeated that 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.
While Russia is openly undermining European security, it is important to note they are doing so with the support of other Member States.
DPRK troops are fighting alongside Russia against Ukraine. Deliveries of ballistic missiles and related equipment from the DPRK and Iran to Russia continue, in clear violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions and undermining the global non-proliferation regime.
Since the beginning of the war, Belarus has been involved by allowing Russian armed forces to use its territory to attack Ukraine. China, for its part, continues to support Russia’s war of aggression by providing material and political support. This must come to an end.
The implications of Russia’s aggression extend far beyond Ukraine. By claiming a sphere of influence and direct control, Russia is undermining the multilateral order based on international law, and advocating a world in which only a select few would enjoy true sovereignty.
We believe that the European security architecture has served us all well and must remain valid in the future.
We firmly reject any attempt by a Member State to alter Europe’s security architecture through aggression, threats, nuclear intimidation, or warmongering. Credible discussions on peace and European security must remain the prerogative of European states, including Ukraine.
Chair,
Russia’s systematic interference in Moldova’s internal affairs reflects its broader strategy to undermine regional democracy and stability. Around 1,500 Russian troops remain illegally stationed in Transnistria, where one of Eastern Europe’s largest ammunition depots at Cobasna holds about 20,000 tons of Soviet-era weapons.
This military presence, combined with hybrid warfare tactics and election interference, demonstrates Russia’s use of frozen conflicts and illicit forces as tools of domination, preventing sovereign states from exercising their right to determine their own security arrangements and development path.
Chair,
The international law-based maritime order is under increasing pressure. Russia’s so-called shadow fleet – with obscure ownership, poor technical condition, unreliable flags, and often uninsured, sanction-violating cargo – poses serious risks to maritime security, undersea infrastructure, and the environment. The threat is acute in the Baltic Sea but extends globally, demanding a joint response.
I thank you, Chair.