Key Points and Summary – Europe must increase its responsibility for Ukraine’s defense as US support under President Trump becomes less certain, according to Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna.
-Speaking at the NATO summit, Tsahkna argued that Europe has the resources, including $240 billion in frozen Russian assets, to provide Kyiv with necessary military aid.
-While acknowledging the difficulty, he urged the EU to pass its 18th sanctions package against Russia even if the US does not follow suit.
-Tsahkna remains confident that NATO is “stronger than ever” and that Ukraine’s path to full membership is “irreversible,” despite current US opposition.
The Ukraine War Meets Donald Trump
More than three years into Russia’s war on Ukraine, President Donald Trump has given every indication that he isn’t willing to offer open-ended support to the Ukrainian war effort, while he’s also become disengaged from efforts to end the war. Meanwhile, the recent NATO summit was more about the various member nations welcoming Donald Trump than about Ukraine.
But now, a government official from another allied country has given an interview on how Europe needs to step up to help Ukraine.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna gave an interview to the Kyiv Independent during the NATO Summit, in which he discussed how Europe “must take up greater responsibility for Ukraine – and its own defense.” But he saw some hope for the future.
“NATO is stronger than ever before,” the diplomat said.
Europe Steps Up
“Europeans are doing more than before to support Ukraine on a military level,” Tsahkna said in the interview. “We are also going to adopt the 18th sanctions package at the EU level to put Russia under heavier pressure. But of course, it’s obvious that the only person who is not interested in the ceasefire is Putin.”
He also made it clear that Putin, judging by recent negotiations with Ukraine, “has just asked for more and more, and is not giving anything.”
He added that Europe needs to up its support, up to 40 billion euros, to Ukraine this year.
The diplomat was also asked what has to change for Russia to come to the table for good-faith talks.
“ I do believe that we can actually crack Russia with more sanctions, by providing more investments and military support to Ukraine, because Ukraine is really strong,” he said. “This narrative that Putin wants to present that he is very close to victory and he has been very successful is fake news. Instead of a three-day special operation, Ukraine now has been fighting for more than three years against Russia.”
No Breakthroughs
He added that Russia’s gains have not included any type of “strategic breakthrough on the battlefield.”
“Our duty is to support Ukraine, which is fighting. I think that it’s clear to everybody in the world now,” he said.
The EU has been discussing another round of sanctions on Russia, although Slovakia and Hungary have objected to a provision that would lower the price cap on Russian gas.
“Finding a consensus among 27 countries is really difficult,” Tsahkna said in the Independent interview. “But we must make these kinds of decisions as Europe, even if the U.S. is not following.”
He also expressed hope that the proposal, introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Lindsey Graham, which would place new sanctions on Russia’s energy exports, as well as on other countries that still do business with Russia, can move forward.
“We’re talking about 500% tariffs on the gas and oil export dealings. But unfortunately, we don’t have this decision yet. So we have a long way to go, but every day we need to do our part,” he said of the Graham proposal.
He was also asked what Europe can do if the U.S. pulls support for Ukraine completely.
“Yes, Europe must take these responsibilities. And to be honest, we have all the money in the world,” the minister said. “We have $240 billion in Russian frozen assets. And we are pushing heavily, as Estonia, to seize them and confiscate them to finance Ukraine. It’s a lot of money for investments in the defense industry, as well as for buying Ukraine new stuff, like air defense systems. But we are not still there.”
Ukraine to NATO?
He was also asked about the idea of Ukraine joining NATO, and where it stands now.
“Estonia’s and many others’ position is that we see full NATO membership as the only working security guarantee for Ukraine and our region,” he said. “This is the most efficient, the most pragmatic decision. It may be impossible right now, but in the future, it will happen. I’m sure about that.”
About the Author: Stephen Silver
Stephen Silver is an award-winning journalist, essayist and film critic, and contributor to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Broad Street Review and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. For over a decade, Stephen has authored thousands of articles that focus on politics, technology, and the economy. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @StephenSilver, and subscribe to his Substack newsletter.
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