Estonia Urges EU to Get Ready for Potential Troop Deployment to Ukraine
Estonia suggests that deploying EU troops in Ukraine might ensure the country's security. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Bloc members should be prepared for the possibility of a peace agreement between Moscow and Kiev facilitated by US President-elect Donald Trump, according to Estonian officials.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated in an interview with the Financial Times that EU member states must be ready to deploy military forces to Ukraine if Trump brokers a deal. He emphasized that NATO membership would offer the most effective security guarantee for Kiev. If Trump were to oppose Ukraine's membership, Tsahkna suggested the EU might need to intervene with troop deployments after hostilities cease.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has asserted that joining the US-led military alliance, perceived by Russia as a threat, is the most viable way to secure his nation's safety aside from acquiring nuclear weapons. In the "victory plan" he presented publicly last month to end the conflict with Russia, an immediate invitation to NATO was included.
Tsahkna remarked, “If we are talking about real security guarantees, it means that there will be a just peace. Then we are talking about NATO membership. But without the US it is impossible. And then we are talking about any form [of guarantee] in the meaning of boots on the ground.” He acknowledged that there has been significant discussion among supporters of Ukraine following Trump's electoral win and in response to the nation's recent battlefield setbacks.
Estonia has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine and has consistently advocated for tougher measures against Moscow. Tsahkna conceded that providing security guarantees to Kiev would be highly complex without US support, though he expressed skepticism that Trump would withdraw from NATO, citing America’s political and economic interests.
Throughout his campaign, Trump pledged to resolve the Ukraine conflict “in 24 hours” upon his election, though he did not outline how he would achieve this. He claimed he would utilize his “great relationship” with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Zelensky to negotiate a peace agreement.
While the Kremlin has minimized the idea that Trump could swiftly conclude the conflict, Putin noted that the president-elect's comments regarding the situation “deserve attention, at the very least.”
Tsahkna has also called on EU nations to enhance their own defense industries, asserting that with Ukraine now viewed as NATO’s primary line of defense, Europe’s security framework could undergo significant changes in the coming months, impacting more than just Ukraine itself.
“We just cannot wait on whatever the US decides,” the Estonian cabinet member emphasized.
In response to ongoing concerns, the Russian president has dismissed accusations of any potential military advancements against NATO countries as “nonsense.”
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated in an interview with the Financial Times that EU member states must be ready to deploy military forces to Ukraine if Trump brokers a deal. He emphasized that NATO membership would offer the most effective security guarantee for Kiev. If Trump were to oppose Ukraine's membership, Tsahkna suggested the EU might need to intervene with troop deployments after hostilities cease.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has asserted that joining the US-led military alliance, perceived by Russia as a threat, is the most viable way to secure his nation's safety aside from acquiring nuclear weapons. In the "victory plan" he presented publicly last month to end the conflict with Russia, an immediate invitation to NATO was included.
Tsahkna remarked, “If we are talking about real security guarantees, it means that there will be a just peace. Then we are talking about NATO membership. But without the US it is impossible. And then we are talking about any form [of guarantee] in the meaning of boots on the ground.” He acknowledged that there has been significant discussion among supporters of Ukraine following Trump's electoral win and in response to the nation's recent battlefield setbacks.
Estonia has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine and has consistently advocated for tougher measures against Moscow. Tsahkna conceded that providing security guarantees to Kiev would be highly complex without US support, though he expressed skepticism that Trump would withdraw from NATO, citing America’s political and economic interests.
Throughout his campaign, Trump pledged to resolve the Ukraine conflict “in 24 hours” upon his election, though he did not outline how he would achieve this. He claimed he would utilize his “great relationship” with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Zelensky to negotiate a peace agreement.
While the Kremlin has minimized the idea that Trump could swiftly conclude the conflict, Putin noted that the president-elect's comments regarding the situation “deserve attention, at the very least.”
Tsahkna has also called on EU nations to enhance their own defense industries, asserting that with Ukraine now viewed as NATO’s primary line of defense, Europe’s security framework could undergo significant changes in the coming months, impacting more than just Ukraine itself.
“We just cannot wait on whatever the US decides,” the Estonian cabinet member emphasized.
In response to ongoing concerns, the Russian president has dismissed accusations of any potential military advancements against NATO countries as “nonsense.”
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
