Estonia calls for more pressure on Putin amid Ukraine's strikes inside Russia
Photo: Margus Tsahkna (Getty Images)
Estonia has called on EU countries to show more "strategic patience" and increase pressure on Russia, which is facing Ukrainian long-range strikes, stated Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, according to Bloomberg.
He stressed that Tallinn cannot predict when the war will end, but given the scale of Russian military losses, a critical moment "is coming closer."
"This is the time to have this strategic patience, put more pressure on Russia to be ready for any kind of reactions from Russia. It can be the starting point for the end of the war," Tsahkna said.
The Estonian minister noted that he sees more unity in Europe than expected, even though Russia is trying to "sow division and diminish Europe’s role at the table as a mediator instead of Ukraine’s ally".
"Europe and Ukraine is the same side. More pressure, more support to Ukraine from Europe, and maybe then this momentum will come when Putin is ready to talk, but it’s not yet there," he said.
Tsahkna added that sanctions are having an effect, but Europe has not yet reached its goal. He stressed the importance of US involvement in the process, while also saying that the EU must take on more initiative.
EU countries supported the decision to extend economic sanctions against Russia for another 12 months. This was an unprecedented step, as such restrictions were previously extended only every six months.
At the same time, Brussels is preparing a further tightening of the sanctions regime. The European Commission has presented proposals for the 21st sanctions package, which includes additional restrictions on Russian companies and citizens, including entry bans to EU countries.
In addition, the new sanctions are expected to target Russia’s financial system, cryptoasset transactions, and trade activities. For the first time, the Russian fishing industry is also set to be included in the restrictions.
