President Karis stresses importance of UN involvement at peace plan summit held by President Zelenskyy of Ukraine

President Alar Karis and his Latvian and Lithuanian counterparts met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres in New York today to discuss potential UN actions to safeguard peace and security in Ukraine and around the world. The Estonian head of state encouraged the Secretary-General to attend the next peace summit organised by Ukraine and to secure high-level UN involvement in the summit.

Speaking about the complex international security situation and military conflicts, President Karis emphasised the central role played by the UN in guaranteeing peace and stability. "The UN has an important role to play in maintaining international security and stability, but its credibility is at risk if we do not stand up for the principles of the UN Charter," he warned. "We have reached a point where the majority of world leaders are in favour of the UN being reformed, because we cannot continue in the same way that we have been. The effectiveness of both the Security Council and the General Assembly needs to be bolstered."

The three heads of state and the Secretary-General also discussed how to isolate Russia in global institutions, since its involvement in decision-making an aggressor state undermines the reputation and credibility of international organisations.

A four-way meeting was also held in New York by the presidents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, focusing on the security of the Baltic-Polish region, cooperation in NATO and support for Ukraine.

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