Deputy Minister Maryana Betsa at the Lennart Meri Conference
Maryana Betsa, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated in the 19th Lennart Meri Conference held in Tallinn, Estonia, on May 16–17. During the event, she joined panel discussions focused on Ukraine’s strategic role in European security and countering distortions of historical memory. Betsa called for increased military support for Ukraine, tighter sanctions against the Russian Federation, and the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression. She reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to joining the European Union and NATO.
Panel Discussions and Key Meetings
On May 16, Betsa took part in a panel titled “From the Frontline to the Fundamentals: Ukraine’s Strategic Place,” alongside:
- Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna;
- Parliamentary State Secretary at Germany’s Ministry of Defense, Sebastian Hartmann;
- Senior Director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Mark Montgomery;
- Director and Senior Fellow for Military Analysis at Defense Priorities, Jennifer Kavanagh.
On May 17, Betsa participated in a panel discussion titled “Burning the Archive: When Memory Becomes a Battlefield.”
Notably, on May 14, a large-scale Russian attack targeted Ukrainian civilians, underscoring the urgency of the topics addressed at the conference. During her visit, Betsa also met with international partners, including Bob Deane, Head of the Security Unit at the Clingendael Institute of International Relations. She gave interviews to several media outlets, such as Spain’s El Mundo, Estonia’s public broadcaster ERR, Finnish media, and the U.S.-based The Wall Street Journal.
Additionally, Betsa met with the Ukrainian community in Estonia, including representatives from the Congress of Ukrainians in Estonia and the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Estonia. On behalf of Minister Andrii Sybiha, she presented the “Amber Heart” award to Bohdan Liutiuk, head of the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Tallinn and a volunteer.
“Russian aggression extends far beyond Ukraine and is an attack on democracy, international law, and the entire global security architecture. The outcome of the war will determine the international community’s ability to uphold the UN Charter, the principles of international law, and the rules-based international order.”
Maryana Betsa
Betsa’s participation in the conference highlights the critical need for continued international support for Ukraine, especially amid ongoing Russian aggression. Her calls for military assistance and the creation of a Special Tribunal reflect Ukraine’s drive to strengthen its global standing and rally more partners in the fight for its future. This also mirrors a broader trend of deepening security and stability cooperation between European nations and Ukraine.
“Russia is systematically trying to erase Ukraine from maps, archives, literature, and international consciousness. That is why the destruction of museums, archives, libraries, churches, memorials, and universities is not a random consequence of war, but a deliberate criminal policy of the Kremlin.”
Maryana Betsa