Estonian Foreign Minister Declares Putin ‘Cannot Stop’ War, Urges Europe to Lead Ukraine’s Defense

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has delivered a stark warning from the recent NATO summit in The Hague, asserting that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a “warlord” who “cannot stop” the war in Ukraine. Speaking to The Kyiv Independent on the opening day of the June 24-25 summit, Tsahkna emphasized that the conflict is “existential” for Putin, necessitating Europe to shoulder greater responsibility for Ukraine’s defense and its own security, especially amidst a new U.S. administration and concerns over shifting American engagement.

Tsahkna dismissed the notion of a Russian victory, advocating for intensified Western efforts including additional sanctions and steadfast military aid. He highlighted Europe’s commitment, noting progress on the 18th EU sanctions package and the push to utilize frozen Russian assets, amounting to $240 billion, to finance Ukraine’s defense and industry. Despite some internal EU disagreements, the minister stressed that Europe must act decisively, even if the U.S. does not fully follow suit on certain economic pressures.

Addressing concerns about NATO’s future under President Trump, Tsahkna firmly stated, “NATO is stronger than ever before,” citing the recent inclusions of Finland and Sweden and increased defense investments by member states. He acknowledged the U.S. call for Europe to contribute more to its own defense, agreeing it’s a necessary rebalancing of burden-sharing.

The Estonian diplomat underscored that Ukraine is fighting not only for itself but “also for us,” emphasizing that an attack on Ukraine is seen as an attack on Europe. While acknowledging the risk of global attention shifting to new conflicts like the escalating situation in the Middle East, Tsahkna assured that Europe’s commitment to Ukraine remains resolute, driven by a profound shift in mentality recognizing Ukraine’s integral place within Europe. He warned that Russia’s aggression, consistent since 2008, will not cease unless confronted decisively, making continued support for Ukraine paramount for broader European security.

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