Statement Central Board of ESTA International: Ukraine

We, the Presidents of the National Branches of the European String Teachers Association (ESTA), along with the Central Board of ESTA, condemn the recent invasion of Ukraine and its consequences, which have brought death and destruction to a large number of innocent people.

Of particular concern tu us is the fate of our friends and colleagues in ESTA Ukraine, whose situation is unknown to us, but whose lives will have been dramatically changed for the worse by this wholly unnecessary military action against the Ukrainian people.

We ask for the immediate withdrawal of foreign troops in the country and hope for a return to a normal and civilised life in the country immediately.

L’ESTA Suisse a également signé cette déclaration et a en même temps payé la cotisation annuelle 2022 pour l’ESTA Ukraine.

I am grateful for your decision to cover the costs for ESTA Ukraine as a sign of solidarity with my country and nation. The fate of some ESTA Ukraine members is still unknown, they are not in touch. Every day we hope to get word from them that they are alive, that they are finally safe. But the whole world saw what the russian troops did with Mariupol, with Chernihiv, with small towns and villages in the Kyiv region. This is a ruthless and savage extermination of Ukrainians and everything Ukrainian. God, give us the strength to go through these dark times!

Nataliia Koptienkova, President of ESTA Ukraine