Russia is currently in a weaker position than at any time in recent years, but that is not a reason to weaken support for Ukraine. On the contrary, it is necessary to step it up.
This was stated by Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal during a joint press conference in Berlin with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the leaders of Latvia and Lithuania, Ukrinform’s correspondent reported.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that Russia was weaker than it had been for many years and stressed that this was not a coincidence but the result of the allies’ actions. He said their strategy was working and urged partners to continue putting pressure on Russia rather than on Ukraine.
Michal warned that Russia’s recent large-scale attacks on civilians demonstrated that the Kremlin’s objectives had not changed. He said Russia still sought to occupy all of Ukraine and divide Europe, adding that the international response should remain unchanged. According to him, Ukraine needed more military support, not less.
He noted that the European Union had already mobilized new financial resources but said allies also needed to increase their bilateral efforts. Michal pointed out that Estonia had committed to providing annual military assistance worth at least 0.25% of its GDP and said the country could do even more, noting that the figure had already reached 0.35% of GDP last year.
The Estonian prime minister also stressed the need to open all negotiation clusters related to Ukraine’s accession to the European Union without delay. He said that a just and lasting peace required a clear path to EU membership for Ukraine, which he described as having long been ready. Michal argued that the EU should not delay fulfilling its part of the process by opening all negotiating clusters, emphasizing that doing so was not a favor to Ukraine but was in the European Union’s own strategic and economic interests and essential to safeguarding peace in Europe.
As Ukrinform reported, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna discussed strengthening support for Kyiv, maintaining pressure on Russia, advancing Ukraine’s EU accession, and postwar reconstruction during a meeting in Tallinn.
Photo: European Union