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Foreign Minister Tsahkna in Brussels: We need to increase pressure on Russia to achieve a lasting peace

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

18.03.2025

Today 17 March, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna attended a meeting of the European Union's Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, where the agenda included Russia's aggression against Ukraine, European-US relations, and the situation in the Middle East. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha joined the meeting via video and gave an overview of the situation on the front. Foreign Minister Tsahkna also attended the EU-organised annual conference for donors of Syria.

Foreign Minister Tsahkna said that today's meeting focused mainly on continued assistance to Ukraine on the one hand, and raising the cost of the war for Russia on the other.

"With its continued attacks against Ukraine, Russia is proving that it is not interested in peace. In these circumstances, we must continue providing military assistance to Ukraine and putting economic pressure on Russia to force it to change course," Tsahkna said, emphasising the need to start serious discussions about mobilizing the frozen sovereign assets of Russia.

"The EU must act quickly to avoid a situation where in only a few months, Russia could be rewarded with the return of its frozen assets," Tsahkna said, referring to the possibility that due to the opposition of some EU member states, the sanctions imposed against Russia may not be extended and its assets may not remain frozen.

"The frozen assets should be mobilised immediately and used for the benefit of Ukraine. The law adopted in Estonia last year proves that there are no legal impediments to this," the foreign minister emphasised.

Tsahkna joined his Nordic and Baltic counterparts and the German foreign minister in a meeting with the EU's Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos in Brussels today to discuss further steps in Ukraine's path to EU membership. Additionally, he had a bilateral meeting with Adam Szlapka, Poland's Minister for European Affairs.

The foreign minister also took part in the annual donors' conference for Syria, organised by the European Union to discuss the EU's future actions in relation to Syria. In February, the EU abolished several sanctions, including restrictions on energy, banking, transport, and reconstruction, that had been imposed against Syria previously. For the first time, Syria officially took part in the conference, represented by Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani.

At the conference, Foreign Minister Tsahkna announced that Estonia would allocate €50 000 to support Syria, with a focus on education (including digital competence in education) and business. Around 17 million people need humanitarian aid and protection in Syria and 90% of the country is living in poverty. 13 million people suffer from food insecurity, there is a shortage of bread, fuel and other essentials, and living costs in Syria have tripled in the past three years. Nearly half of school-aged children have no access to education and 15 million people need healthcare assistance. The country is affected by large-scale displacement and a devasted economy, and homes, critical infrastructure and farmland have suffered extensive damage. Estonia is allocating humanitarian aid through its strategic partners Estonian Refugee Council and NGO Mondo.