Europe urged to reassess strategy, Trump's role likened to Churchill

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna assessed that Russia is escalating the conflict step by step, and the West needs to become more resolute in its response. He believes that if Donald Trump becomes the President of the United States again, he could become "the Winston Churchill of our times."

In an interview published in Wednesday's edition of the newspaper "Postimees," Tsahkna emphasized that Russia's war in Ukraine has been ongoing for approximately 11 years, counting from the annexation of Crimea, and it is longer than any modern war.

The minister noted that the West must open a "new chapter" in shaping the disrupted European and global security architecture after the approximate third year of the full-scale war. Donald Trump's presidency may help in this, potentially changing the face of this war.

Tsahkna critically referred to the actions of Western leaders to date, particularly German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. According to him, Scholz’s recent initiative, a phone call to Vladimir Putin, neither brought peace closer nor influenced the goals of the Russian dictator, and only stirred negative emotions among allies and partners.

The head of Estonian diplomacy emphasized that new Western leaders can play a "very important role" on the path to peace. He highlighted Donald Trump, who, running for the U.S. presidency again, repeatedly states that his goal is to "end the war in Ukraine." "He has the potential to become the Winston Churchill of our times," Tsahkna assessed, referencing the role of the British Prime Minister during World War II.

Tsahkna positively assessed the decision of outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden regarding the possibility of Ukrainians using long-range weapons to attack targets in Russia. However, he noted that the West must finally decide whether it aims for "the survival of Ukraine or its victory."

Source: PAP