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Tsahkna meeting with EU foreign ministers: indecisiveness, slowness and fear of escalation continue to give oxygen to the Putin regime

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

01.09.2023

On Thursday, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna attended the informal meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Toledo, Spain, saying that the EU must take decisive steps to increase defence aid to Ukraine, and stressed that Russia's leadership must be held accountable for the crime of aggression committed in Ukraine.

The meeting covered Russia's aggression in Ukraine, including the 10-point peace plan of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and holding Russia accountable for the crimes committed in Ukraine.

"Tomorrow we are commemorating the 84th anniversary of the start of the Second World War, which left a deep mark on history," Tsahkna said. "The crimes committed by the Soviet Union during and after the Second World War went unpunished and we are now witnessing the impact and consequences of this because the crimes of Stalin are being repeated in Ukraine."

"After the Second World War we promised "Never again", but this promise has been broken," Tsahkna said, emphasising that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his closest allies must be held to account for Russia's war of aggression. "Indecisiveness, slowness and fear of escalation continue to give oxygen to the Putin regime."

Tsahkna said that instead of criticising the military success of Ukraine from the comfort of armchairs, decisive steps are needed to increase defence assistance to Ukraine. "One option is a special fund for Ukraine, which would allow us to improve the planning of assistance to Ukraine. The EU's High Representative Josep Borrell has made a proposal to this end and it would also be in line with the joint declaration of G7 states in support of Ukraine, aimed at coordinating full and long-term assistance to Ukraine."

The discussion was preceded by a working breakfast, attended by the Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba, who gave an overview of the situation in Ukraine.

The ministers also spoke about the situation in Niger and Western Africa in general. Tsahkna said Estonia supported the actions of ECOWAS, the economic organisation of West African states, in Niger and the EU-wide response to the unrest, including potential sanctions for organisers of the coup.

"Instability in West Africa creates favourable conditions for Russia, which is spreading disinformation, and its henchmen from the Wagner group are already sowing chaos in the region," Tsahkna said, adding that Estonia was ready to contribute to the military partnership mission of the European Union in Niger but the decision on the mission was postponed due to the coup.

The ministers had a working lunch with the Foreign Minister of Niger Ibrahim Yacoubou, President of the ECOWAS Commission Omar Touray and Abdel-Fatau Musah, the Political and Security Adviser of ECOWAS.