Estonia’s Foreign Minister believes the conflict extends beyond Ukraine’s borders.
“This isn’t just about Europe. Putin and Russia see the U.S. as their primary, historical adversary,” Margus Tsahkna stated in an exclusive interview in Tallinn.
“His goal is to rebuild the Soviet empire, and Ukraine is just one piece of that plan,” he elaborated.
Tsahkna recalled witnessing 120,000 Russian troops amassed near the Estonian border nine years prior, when he served as Defense Minister, poised for a swift invasion.
“Those troops are now gone, deployed to Ukraine where many have died,” Tsahkna said from the foreign ministry Wednesday.
“Currently, I don’t anticipate a full-scale military assault against NATO, as Russia is losing strength in Ukraine. Their economy is weak, but Russia is clearly preparing for something,” Tsahkna noted.
Estonia is taking precautions.
To deter potential aggression on NATO’s eastern border, Estonia announced plans to allocate over 5% of its GDP to defense next year, meeting a target requested by President from all NATO members.
Estonia celebrated the arrival of six U.S.-made HIMARS rocket systems on Wednesday, a weapon effectively used in Ukraine with a range of up to 186 miles.
“Estonia operates under the principle that for every $1 invested by the U.S., we contribute $10. This investment benefits the U.S. economy while strengthening our capabilities,” Tsahkna explained.
Recently, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, and Poland announced their withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits anti-personnel landmines. Russia, which is not a signatory, has used mines in occupied areas of Ukraine.
Estonia, a nation of 1.3 million in Eastern Europe, is roughly twice the size of New Jersey and shares a 214-mile border.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began over three years ago, Estonia has ceased all energy imports from Russia and now sources 80% of its natural gas from the United States.
Other nations haven’t been as resolute. The 27-member , including Estonia, has only reduced Russian energy imports by 60%. Last year, the European Union spent more on Russian oil and gas than on aid to Ukraine, according to the Kiel Institute.
The Kremlin is also engaged in a war on another front. “Russia is exploiting the church’s religion to advance its political objectives,” Tsahkna stated.
The Foreign Minister dismissed Russia’s proposed three-day ceasefire surrounding its May 9 Victory Day celebrations. “It’s not a serious offer,” Tsahkna said.
Since late 2023, numerous undersea cables in the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland have been damaged. Russia is suspected, but definitive proof is elusive, according to Tsahkna. Over 14 individuals from Russia’s “shadow fleet” have been arrested, suspected of at least one act of sabotage.
after patrols were increased off the Estonian coast in January, officers aboard ships in the Gulf of Finland reported no further cable cuts on Tuesday.
Asked about the prospects for a ceasefire and an end to hostilities in Ukraine, Tsahkna cautioned:
“President Trump has stated his desire for peace, and the Ukrainian people also desire peace. However, Putin does not want peace.”
Tsahkna dismissed the possibility of Putin using , calling it “political suicide.”
“He is brutal, but the West is sometimes too weak. Putin is exploiting our fears,” Tsahkna concluded.
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