“The video meeting of the Baltic States and the United Kingdom held yesterday and the messages coming from London affirm that a critical majority of Europe thinks like we do.
The next step should be the Europe-led formation of a coalition of the willing made up of countries that will ensure continued military aid to Ukraine and develop strong security guarantees. This means that these countries and Ukraine will contribute to a lasting and just peace.
Our shared goal is a lasting and just peace, and to achieve it, Europe must make a greater effort and take its steps more quickly than it has so far. The obstacle to peace is Putin and his continued aggression; our pressure must target the aggressor and our support must go to the victim of the aggression. It is only when Putin realises that time is not working in his favour that credible negotiations can begin.
We welcome the leadership of the UK and France in developing the security guarantees offered to Ukraine and we would like to reiterate – Estonia is ready to be an active participant in these discussions. We are convinced that a lasting peace requires that convincing international security guarantees ensuring Ukraine’s security, economic development, and political stability take effect immediately after the end of active hostilities. NATO and European Union memberships take time; however, the guarantees are needed immediately and therefore, it is timely to develop them.
The discussions in London align with Estonia’s view that Europe should shoulder most of the burden of the security guarantees offered to Ukraine, while the participation of the USA is also necessary. We welcome the message from London that European countries would continue efforts to include the United States.
We also welcome the message stated in London that military aid to Ukraine must be increased immediately and the delivery of this aid must be expedited. We also consider it crucial that Europe continues raising the cost of the aggression for Russia by ramping up sanctions and mobilising frozen assets. I am expecting concrete decisions to that effect from next week’s European Council.”
Margus Tsahkna, Foreign Minister