• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Foreign Minister Tsahkna: We will continue strengthening NATO and supporting Ukraine

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

04.04.2025

On 3 and 4 April, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna attended the meeting of NATO foreign ministers, where the agenda focused on boosting the deterrence and defence posture of Allies, supporting Ukraine and countering the Russian threat.

At the meeting with Allies, Tsahkna underlined that a strong transatlantic bond reinforced the security of both Europe and North America and ensured the most successful resistance to the threat posed by Russia, which is the most serious and long-term threat for the entire Alliance.

"Russia still wants to weaken and divide the West, destroy Ukraine and restructure European security," the foreign minister said, adding that NATO must remain united and strong to counter this threat.

Tsahkna said the Alliance's strength was based, above all, on its defence capabilities, which is why a new defence spending target must be agreed upon at the Alliance's June summit in The Hague. "It is good that several Allies have already announced an increase in defence spending and I hope that we will hear about more decisions of this kind before the summit in The Hague," Tsahkna said, noting that Estonia's defence spending would amount to almost 4% of GDP this year and will stand at a minimum of 5% of GDP next year.

At a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Tsahkna underlined that all efforts must be aimed at a just and lasting peace.

"The formula for this is simple: we must continue providing maximum military aid to Ukraine and above all, economic pressure must be put on Russia to force it into giving up its goals," Tsahkna said, welcoming the initiative by US senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal to impose additional sanctions if Russia does not agree to a lasting peace with Ukraine.

"Ukraine has proven its readiness for peace, while Russia has continued setting preconditions and conducting brutal attacks against Ukraine," the foreign minister said.

NATO foreign ministers also had a meeting with the foreign ministers of Indo-Pacific partners (Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand), and a discussion with the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas. The foreign minister also had bilateral meetings with his Belgian, Japanese, Greek and Turkish counterparts.