Estonian PM asserts that defending Kiev means defending Talinn

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Feb 20:34
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Estonia's Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, announces that to defend Talinn's security it is imperative to "totally discredit the tool of aggression."

Kaja Kallas, Prime Minister of Estonia, gives an interview at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. (AP)

Estonia's Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, announced, during an interview for AFP, on Thursday, that the country's defense "starts from Ukraine."

Kallas told AFP that "we see clearly that our defense right now starts also from Ukraine because Ukraine is fighting with the same threat... So as long as they are fighting there, they are weakening the same enemy as we have."

According to Kallas, given the country's security concerns, it is imperative to "totally discredit the tool of aggression."

The PM argued, "If this aggression pays off in Ukraine, then it serves as an invitation to use it elsewhere," adding, "Because if it is so that you... go attack another country, another sovereign country, and then you walk away with more territories, more land, more natural resources, then the signal to... all the aggressors, or would-be aggressors, in the world, is that this pays off, use it."

Russia expels Estonia envoy after Tallinn downgraded diplomatic ties

Tensions between Russia and Estonia have been on the rise since President Putin launched the special military operation in Ukraine.

On January 23, Russia ordered the Estonian Ambassador to Moscow, Margus Laidre, to leave the country by February 7 in response to in connection Tallinn's actions of demanding the lowering of Russia's diplomatic representation in the country.

"On January 23, Estonian Ambassador Margus Laidre was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry. He received a strong protest in connection with the actions of the Estonian authorities. The Estonian ambassador should leave Russia on February 7, 2023," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

On January 11, Estonia announced that it had requested that Moscow lowers its embassy staff number to 8 starting February 7.

Russia's Embassy commented on Tallin's decision, saying that it [embassy] "does not promote Estonian-Russian relations," and therefore there are "no grounds" for the embassy to operate in its current level of diplomatic representation.

Ukraine War; One Year On

Feb 24, 2023, marks the first anniversary of the start of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine. The war has since killed thousands, displaced millions, and destroyed entire cities. One year after the start of the war, Al Mayadeen English reflects on the world order, the repercussions of western sanctions, and the key events of the war.