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Foreign Minister Tsahkna in Lithuania: We must not be afraid of Russia's defeat

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

20.01.2025

On 16 and 17 January, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna attended the Snow Meeting, a high-level foreign and security policy event in Lithuania, speaking in a panel on Ukraine's victory plan.

"Ukraine's victory plan clearly states what needs to be done to achieve victory. Ukraine's supporters do not have to come up with something new, they just need to follow the plan," Tsahkna said. "However, in addition to Ukraine's victory, it is important to understand that Russia must lose the war. We must not be afraid of Russia's defeat."

The foreign minister said that it in addition to Ukraine's sovereignty and survival, the future of the Euro-Atlantic security architecture was also at stake.

"Several times, the international community has made the mistake of not taking the aggression coming from Russia seriously," the foreign minister said, referring to Russia's war in Georgia in 2008 and the annexation of Crimea in 2014. "This mistake should not be made again now. We must understand that Russia poses a serious and long-term threat."

Speaking about Ukraine's NATO membership, Tsahkna underlined its importance for not just Ukraine but European security. "NATO membership is the best way to deter Russia from launching new attacks and this is why it is important to bring Ukraine under the NATO umbrella. Equally importantly, with Ukraine's accession, NATO would gain a battle-hardened and extremely strong Ally."

The foreign minister emphasised the importance of continued pressure on Russia, including through using its frozen assets. "Using frozen assets for the benefit of Ukraine would be a concrete and very practical step that would help Ukraine on the one hand, and pressure Russia into stopping hostilities on the other," Tsahkna said.

On the sidelines of the conference, the foreign minister had bilateral meetings with Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu, as well as with NATO's Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska.