Kaimo Kuusk

Kaimo Kuusk (born 5 December 1975),^[1] is an Estonian diplomat and foreign intelligence officer. From 2019 until 2023, he was the Estonian ambassador to Ukraine. In 2023, he became Estonia's ambassador to Lithuania.

Kuusk at the Second Recovery Forum of the Zhytomyr Region in 2022

Early life and education

Kaimo Kuusk was born in Abja-Paluoja.^[1] He attended secondary school at the Hugo Treffner Gymnasium in Tartu.^[2] He is a 1998 graduate of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Tartu.^[3]

Career

Kaimo Kuusk (left) greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2019

Kuusk began his career employed at the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service (Estonian: Välisluureamet, VLA). He was head of the department from 1998 until 2008, and Deputy Director General from 2008 until 2019. In 2019, he was appointed the Advisor of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Bureau of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Estonian: Eesti Vabariigi Välisministeerium). On 11 July 2019, he was appointed as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Estonia to Ukraine, succeeding Gert Antsu.^[4] He arrived in Kyiv for his position on 1 August, and on 11 September 2019, he presented President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy his credentials and reaffirmed Estonia's continued support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.^[5]

In 2023, Kuusk was appointed the Estonian ambassador to Lithuania, with Annely Kolk being appointed Estonia's new ambassador to Ukraine. On 28 August 2023, Kuusk presented President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda his credentials.^[6]

Personal life

Kuusk played football for Tallinn football club FC Toompea, retiring in 2014.^[7][8]

Acknowledgement

• Order of the White Star, V Class (2006)^[9]
• Cross of Merit, I Class (2022)^[10]

References

1. Lepik, Indrek (26 April 2022). "Eesti diplomaatide Kiievist põgenemise lugu. „Sain aru, miks sõda alati mustvalgetes toonides esitatakse. Tänavad olidki täiesti mustvalged."". Eesti Ekspress (in Estonian). Retrieved 30 November 2022.
2. "Infoleht 27.05.2019". Hugo Treffner Gymnasium. Tartu. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
3. "Sotsiaalteaduskond". Universitas Tartuensis: Tartu Ülikooli ajaleht (in Estonian). No. 22. Tartu. 12 June 1998. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
4. "Kaimo Kuusk". Kyiv International Economic Forum. Kyiv. 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
5. "New Estonian ambassador to Ukraine presents his credentials to president". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR). Tallinn. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
6. "Ambassador Kaimo Kuusk presents credentials to Lithuanian president". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR). Tallinn. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
7. Ojassalu, Villu (20 October 2004). "Võistluslik viik". Vooremaa (in Estonian). Retrieved 30 November 2022.
8. "Kaimo Kuusk". Eesti Jalgpalli Liit (in Estonian). 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
9. "Rüütel annab riikliku autasu 834 inimesele". Eesti Päevaleht (in Estonian). 7 February 2006. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
10. "Arvo Pärt is awarded the Cross of Merit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, First Class". Arvo Pärt Centre. 15 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.