Estonia's foreign minister, new U.S. ambassador discuss Ukraine situation

TALLINN. Jan 30 (Interfax) - The United States Ambassador Designate to Estonia, George P. Kent, arrived in the country on Monday and met with Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu, the U.S. embassy said in a statement.

"[The ambassador] highlighted the excellent relationship between the United States and Estonia and discussed continued cooperation in supporting Ukraine," the statement added

The republic had been without a U.S. ambassador for four years. According to Estonia's diplomatic protocol, Kent will be accredited as Head of U.S. Mission after delivering his credentials to the president of Estonia.

Kent was sworn into office on December 21, 2022.

He is a career diplomat, who until recently worked as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. Prior to that, he was deputy chief of mission in Kiev. In addition, Kent served as a senior anti-corruption coordinator in the European bureau and as Director of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

The U.S. has not had an ambassador in Estonia since 2018 when Kent's predecessor James D. Melville Jr. announced his resignation in protest against former President Donald Trump's statements disparaging NATO and its allies.