Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna told parliament on 11 February that Russia remains a serious and long-term security threat, urging NATO and the EU to adjust their policies accordingly.
Tsahkna presented a foreign policy report to parliament, outlining Estonia’s key objectives and actions. He warned that the rules-based world order is under growing pressure, with autocracies strengthening, aligning, and seeking to divide democratic societies by exploiting existing tensions and undermining shared values.
“In light of this, the democratic world must ask itself – will we allow the threats to grow until it is too late, as was done in the 1930s, or will we resolutely take a stand to defend our values,” Tsahkna said.
“It was only recently that many European leaders said they should have listened to the Baltic states when we warned about the growing threat of aggression in the east. Today we say: listen to us now as well. Our freedom is at stake; keeping it requires victory in Ukraine, containing the aggressive Russia for a long time, strengthening our alliances and a more confident Europe.”
Tsahkna stressed that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has not abandoned his goals, still seeking to subjugate all of Ukraine and reshape European security. He underscored that while no one desires peace more than the Ukrainians, it must be just and lasting.
“Peace can only come through strength”
“A just peace is based on international law, including the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty. A just peace also means that crimes are punished and damages are compensated,” Tsahkna said, adding that to maintain peace, the security, economic sustainability and political stability of Ukraine must be ensured, and there was no better guarantee of security in Europe than NATO and European Union membership.
“It is naïve to hope that peace can be achieved just by talking about it, or worse, by feeding the aggressor with the freedom of other nations. Peace can only come through strength. To this end, we must ensure a position of strength for Ukraine and prove that the West is not deviating from its course.”
The minister reaffirmed Estonia’s ongoing leadership in supporting Ukraine and increasing the cost of Russia’s aggression. He stressed that to halt Russia’s advance, the West must cut all energy imports from Russia, impose tariffs on non-sanctioned goods, counter Russia’s shadow fleet, and accelerate efforts to mobilize the aggressor state’s frozen assets.
“There has been too much caution and timidity in raising the price of aggression for Russia. It is not the aggressor’s defeat we should fear – instead, we should fear the success of the aggression. Dangerous times call for more decisive action,” Tsahkna said.
Europe and North America need to maintain their alliance
He reiterated that Russia remains a serious and long-term security threat, emphasizing the need for NATO and the EU to shape their policies accordingly. He stressed that sanctions and international isolation must continue until Russia ends its aggression and compensates for the damage caused.
Speaking on transatlantic relations, Tsahkna said that for Europe and North America to effectively tackle 21st-century challenges, they must maintain a strong and united alliance.
He highlighted the growing strength of Nordic-Baltic cooperation and emphasized Estonia’s commitment to leveraging all regional alliances. This includes the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force and the Council of the Baltic Sea States to strengthen security and cooperation.
Tsahkna also addressed the Middle East, noting that the recent truce between Israel and Hamas, the weakening of Iran and its affiliated terrorist organisations, and the prospect of a fresh start in Syria and Lebanon’s new government offer hope for a better future. However, he stressed that lasting progress requires efforts from both regional countries and the international community.
“Estonia has been consistent on the issues of the Middle East, supporting the alleviation of human suffering and the two-state solution based on international law,” Tsahkna said.
Estonia’s been right when warning about threats
He also underlined that Europe needed a more confident China policy. “Now that China has become a decisive enabler of Russian aggression, it is clear to Estonia that the European Union’s policy towards China needs to be reconsidered, placing more emphasis on China as a rival and competitor,” he asserted.
On EU enlargement, Tsahkna highlighted the progress of Armenia, Ukraine, and Moldova, calling it one of the EU’s most powerful tools, benefiting both new members and Europe as a whole. However, he warned that Georgia’s authorities have demonstrated that EU enlargement can also be reversed.
Tsahkna pointed out that Estonia’s warnings about threats have been proven correct, highlighting the country’s consistent resolve and unity in advocating its position internationally. “We must keep this unity and integrity if we want to emerge from these difficult times unscathed and stronger as a country and a nation.”
