'Russia is a threat to whole of Europe': EU urges for more pressure on Kremlin
Vladimir Putin (photo: Getty Images)
Russia is already a threat to the entire European continent, so support for Ukraine from its partners is an investment in their own security, not charity, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna says.
Threat to whole of Europe
According to the Estonian foreign minister, during his three-day visit to Ukraine, he saw firsthand how Ukrainians are forced to live under constant Russian attacks and air raid alerts.
"There is something deeply unsettling about that moment. On one side of the border, people live under the constant threat of Russian missiles and drones. Cross it, and suddenly there are no sirens. Life appears normal again. I hate how easy it can feel to leave the war behind. But Ukraine cannot leave it behind," Tsahkna stressed.
He emphasized that the threat posed by the Kremlin's actions is not limited to Ukrainian territory.
As an example, the diplomat cited a recent Russian strike near the border in Yahodyn, which occurred close to the EU and NATO border shortly after members of the Estonian delegation had crossed it.
In addition, Europe is already facing sabotage, cyberattacks, disinformation, and Russian attempts to place explosives in European logistics chains.
What Europe must do to secure victory
The Estonian official believes that military assistance to Ukrainian Defense Forces is direct protection for Europe itself.
"Helping Ukraine defend itself is therefore not charity, and it is not someone else's war. It is an investment in the security of all of Europe," the minister said.
Tsahkna says to ensure Ukraine's victory and stop the aggression, Western countries should take the following steps:
- Provide the necessary military support and urgently strengthen Ukraine's air defenses
- Support Ukraine's ability to carry out deep strikes to put pressure on the enemy
- Strengthen sanctions and reduce as much as possible the revenues that finance Russia's war machine.
He concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin must clearly understand that every new act of aggression and terror will only increase the cost of the war for Russia, rather than reduce it.
Putin's main goal in his war against Ukraine
Earlier, the European Union clearly outlined Putin's main goal in the war against Ukraine.
According to European analysts and diplomats, Russia seeks to trigger a political collapse inside Ukraine to fully seize the country, rather than limit itself to occupying individual territories in the east.
At the same time, the Kremlin continues its manipulation surrounding the possible resumption of the diplomatic process.
In particular, Putin's team recently assessed the chances of holding trilateral talks on resolving the war in Ukraine, saying such a format could be possible under certain conditions.
