Putin wants Europe in Ukraine talks to buy time, Estonia says
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna revealed the real reason why the Kremlin leader is trying to involve Europe in peace negotiations. And it is not about attempts to stop the war, the Estonian media outlet ERR reports.
After the NATO foreign ministers' meeting held on May 21–22 in Helsingborg, Sweden, Tsahkna spoke on the Ukraina stuudio program. According to him, the atmosphere at the meeting was mostly positive — Russia has failed to make significant progress on the front in recent months.
At the same time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made it clear that Washington is stepping back from active participation in the peace process. Tsahkna confirmed this: negotiations in their previous format have effectively ended.
"In fact, these negotiations in their previous form have ended. Now, everyone understands that Vladimir Putin wants to drag Europe into this process. The negotiations, which lasted for more than a year and in reality resembled just talks, allowed Putin to buy time," Tsahkna emphasized.
All this time, he terrorized Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones.
Why the Kremlin wants Europe as a mediator
According to the minister, Moscow wants to involve Europe in the role of mediator with a specific goal — to stop sanctions. Tsahkna noted that Ukrainians themselves jokingly already call them "long-range" and "deep" because the strikes are really hitting Russia.
"Right now, Putin needs to buy time. If Europe took on the role of mediator, we would no longer be talking about the new sanctions package that we are currently preparing. There are very painful things for Russia there that Putin fears, including a complete ban on maritime services throughout the entire European Union and several other sanctions," he said.
Why Europe is not rushing to meet with Putin
The foreign ministers of European countries agreed that an urgent meeting with the Kremlin leader would only weaken their positions and give Ukraine nothing.
Tsahkna called for maintaining strategic patience, increasing pressure, and waiting until the Russian president is forced to move to real negotiations — for which, in the minister's opinion, he is currently not ready.
Next week, European foreign ministers will gather in Cyprus to discuss this topic.
Estonia had previously warned allies against direct contacts with the Kremlin. Tsahkna urged them not to take the Kremlin's bait and stressed that now is the time to pressure Russia, not engage in dialogue with it.
Meanwhile, Estonian intelligence reached similar conclusions about the state of Russia itself. The head of Estonia's Foreign Intelligence Service, Kaupo Rosin, stated that time is no longer on Putin's side: within a few months, the Kremlin leader may lose the ability to dictate terms.
