Europe's lessons: Estonia warns against a hollow peace
- Any kind of peace without security guarantees is not really peace - said Estonia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Margus Tsahkna, regarding the war in Ukraine. He also stated that many Western countries fear Putin's reaction to a potential defeat.
Estonia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Margus Tsahkna, noted that Europe is experiencing a time similar to the period before the partition of Czechoslovakia in 1939.
- We can go home and say that we have brought peace, but if it is Chamberlain's peace, it will be the beginning of more significant aggression from Russia. Now, we have all the opportunities to avoid everything that happened after 1938, meaning World War II. This is not just about Europe; it is about the world order - he said in an interview with the "Kyiv Independent."
He stated that the West must continue supporting Ukraine to "create a just peace," otherwise the escalation of conflict with Russia will affect all of Europe. A solution could be, for example, Ukraine joining NATO.
- The only thing not visible is Vladimir Putin's willingness to make actual peace. We cannot weaken our positions by talking about peace when the other side is committing this aggression and shows no willingness to change - the Estonian minister said.
is the West afraid of Russia's... defeat?
Tsahkna emphasizes that Moscow's goal in 2022 was to overthrow the Ukrainian government, and this goal remains unchanged.
- That is why I appeal to our allies to understand that any kind of ceasefire is not peace. Any kind of peace without security guarantees is not really peace. And there can be no peace process without Ukraine; it is impossible - he stressed.
He highlighted that Russia has become more aggressive, as evidenced, for example, by the presence of North Korean soldiers near the front line. Tsahkna noted that some Western countries fear what Vladimir Putin will do in case of a defeat.
- I remember there was once the same fear of what would happen if the Soviet Union fell. This fear of Putin's downfall actually holds back many, many decisions. We must keep pushing - he assessed.
