At the Kiel Security Conference Estonia’s foreign minister cautioned that Moscow uses fear and false diplomacy to divide the West.
At the Kiel Security Conference in Germany, the Estonian foreign minister expressed the view that Moscow is currently using fear of escalation and false hopes for diplomacy to divide the West.
Tsakhna noted that Russian leader Vladimir Putin has for years been fueling the illusion among the West that Russia’s aggression can be stopped by compromises.
Such hopes arose after Russia’s attack on Georgia, the 2014 annexation of Crimea, and after the signing of the Minsk agreements. However, in his words, they proved futile.
The second trap is fear. Moscow seeks to intimidate the West with threats of escalation. We must not fall into any of these traps.
– official
According to Tsakhna, Europe should not assume that Russia’s aggression will end simply through dialogue.
“In some circles there is hope that, because Russia is currently in a weaker position, it might be possible to engage it through dialogue. In reality, Europe must maintain strategic patience, increase pressure on Moscow, and stand firmly with Ukraine. Europe should not allow itself to be dragged into the role of a neutral mediator – that would be another trap,” said Tsakhna.
Europe should not think that Russia’s aggression will end simply through dialogue.
– Tsakhna
According to the head of the Estonian Foreign Ministry, Ukraine’s strong military power is critically important for the security of the entire European continent. That is why the West should regard Ukraine not as a consumer of security, but as its reliable supplier.
“This week the world’s attention was focused on the burning Moscow, another demonstration of Ukraine’s growing military capabilities and its ability to strike targets deep inside Russian territory,” Tsakhna concluded.
In conclusion, Estonia’s position remains consistent: The West should support Ukraine and avoid traps that could weaken the unity of responses to Russia’s aggression.