The Estonian head of state remarked that in presenting its demands as ‘proposals’, Russia had enticed the West into the trap of negotiations. “We must not fall for the trap they have set, which is designed to fatally undermine European security as we know it and to coax us into making concessions,” Prime Minister Kallas cautioned. “It is, in a word, blackmail.”
According to Prime Minister Kallas, the Russian military threat to Ukraine is growing. “All indications are that we need to be prepared for further, and further-reaching, Russian aggression in the country,” she warned. “In order to stop it from escalating, we need persuasive deterrence and to support Ukraine. And we need to be ready to respond very quickly.”
Prime Minister Kallas explained that the European Union and the United States were working together on an array of sanctions. “Here within the EU we need to ensure that they are implemented immediately if the situation gets any worse,” she said. The Estonian and Polish prime ministers also discussed the importance of reinforcing the military deterrence capabilities of NATO’s eastern flank, agreeing on the need to act more promptly on the decisions already taken. NATO Defence Ministers will be meeting to discuss this issue in the coming days.
The Estonian head of government wished Poland well in its chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), expressing her hope that debates within the OSCE would help to reduce the tensions caused by Russia.
The Polish and Estonian prime ministers acknowledged the close cooperation pursued by their countries in the area of security. “Today yet another Estonian contingent will be departing for Poland in order to help deter the ongoing hybrid attack being waged by Belarus,” Prime Minister Kallas said. “The partnership Estonia enjoys with its Polish colleagues is an excellent one. The role that Poland plays in air-policing in the Baltic States and in taking part in military exercises is invaluable, helping to reinforce security throughout the region.”