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Foreign Minister Tsahkna at a meeting with Barrot: Russia must not be rewarded with the return of its frozen assets

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

11.03.2025

On 10 and 11 March, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna was on a visit to Paris, meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot today and with Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad yesterday to discuss help to Ukraine and European security. Tsahkna and Haddad also opened the Estonian Business Hub in Paris.

Tsahkna thanked France for its contribution to the security of our region and NATO's collective defence, and discussions covered closer economic relations between Estonia and France, which are certainly boosted by the business hub opened at the Estonian embassy.

At the meetings, Tsahkna noted that Europe must increase and accelerate its aid to Ukraine to allow Ukraine to resist Russia's aggression.

"It is only when Ukraine is in a position of strength that a just and lasting peace can be achieved through negotiations and Russia's imperialist ambitions brought to an end," Tsahkna said. The foreign minister also recognised France for its leadership in working out security guarantees for Ukraine.

He added that forceful action was needed now to keep up the economic pressure on Russia.

"Europe is facing a seminal decision. Should we mobilise frozen Russian assets worth more than €200 billion for the benefit of Ukraine, or risk the assets being returned to Russia in only a few months," Tsahkna said, referring to the chance that due to the opposition of some member states, the European Union may be unable to extend the sanctions imposed against Russia and keep Russia's sovereign assets frozen. "I am convinced that the right decision would be to allow these assets to be used for strengthening Ukraine and not for rewarding the aggressor."
The meetings also covered European security. Foreign Minister Tsahkna said Russia was and remained the most serious security threat for all Europe, which is why we needed to reinforce our deterrence and defence posture and fill capability gaps by increasing defence spending.

"Europe must stand on its two feet and take action to meet current and future security challenges successfully," Tsahkna said.

Today, the foreign minister met with influential French think thankers and journalists in Paris and visited Paris Defence and Strategy Forum.