Estonia calls for the EU to send soldiers to Ukraine amid concerns over impending shift in U.S. foreign policy positions
Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna has suggested that European Union (EU) member states should be prepared to send members of their militaries to Ukraine if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump attempts to broker a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow that would be seen as more beneficial for Russia.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Tsahkna emphasized that membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is still the best security guarantee for Ukraine. If Trump opposes even this, he claimed that the EU would need to step up and provide “boots on the ground” in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated that joining NATO is essential for Ukraine’s security, as an alternative to acquiring nuclear weapons. The “victory plan” he is promoting to the EU and Trump includes NATO membership to end the conflict with Russia.
Estonia, which has a significant Russian minority and shares a border with Russia, has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine and has called for stronger measures against Russia. However, Tsahkna acknowledged that it would be difficult for the EU to offer security guarantees to Ukraine without U.S. backing, and questioned whether Trump would abandon NATO due to America’s political and economic interests.
Trump has long promised to end the Ukraine conflict quickly, using his relationships with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky to broker peace. Although Moscow has dismissed the idea that Trump could easily resolve the conflict, Putin has noted that Trump’s statements deserve attention.
Tsahkna also urged the EU to boost its defense capabilities, as Ukraine is now considered NATO’s first line of defense against Russia. He stressed that the EU cannot wait for U.S. decisions, as the security architecture in Europe may need to shift with Ukraine’s fate on the line.
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In response, Russia has escalated tensions by loosening conditions for nuclear weapon use, signaling that Moscow could consider using nuclear weapons if faced with a “massive” attack or if non-nuclear countries backed by nuclear powers are targeted. This raises fears of a broader conflict, though some analysts believe Putin’s threats are more about intimidating the West than actually starting World War III.
As the situation develops, Russia launched its largest aerial attack on Ukraine in nearly three months, signaling its intention to strengthen its position ahead of future negotiations, particularly with Trump’s upcoming presidency. Experts suggest that Russia is preparing for peace talks, but Moscow’s aim is still to subjugate Ukraine and retain key territories.
Meanwhile, despite the escalating conflict, Zelensky remains steadfast in defending Ukraine’s territorial integrity, including Crimea.
In a recent speech marking 1,000 days of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Zelensky presented a “resilience plan” to parliament. He emphasized that Ukraine’s goal of restoring full territorial integrity would not be compromised. He further stated that any settlement leaving Ukraine in a worse position than it was before 2022 would provoke political chaos within the country.
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