“Estonia will never recognize the forcible seizure of Ukrainian territory,” Prime Minister Kristen Michal (Reform) said. Despite differences between Ukraine, European countries, and the US on peace, the Prime Minister remains hopeful about progress in upcoming talks after Wednesday’s summit in London drew a blank.
Michal said:
“Estonia will never recognize the forcible seizure of territories from Ukraine. That is clear. And we have repeatedly seen how Putin says ‘yes,’ only to follow it with a ‘but.’ So, during this time as well, we must support Ukraine as much as possible, in order to ultimately pressure Russia.”
He added that Americans need to understand concessions are not the way to deal with Russia. So far, he said, Ukrainians have acted wisely, assuring all parties of their readiness for an “initial ceasefire.”
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur (Reform) noted that it cannot be ruled out that Putin is maneuvering to place blame on Ukraine for not reaching a potential ceasefire, but these are the aspects that Ukrainian leaders must also consider.
“A peace process without the U.S. is not conceivable,” the prime minister emphasized. “In any case, Europe must bear the main burden on Ukraine’s future, but we expect this to happen in partnership with the U.S. — that the U.S. will remain involved one way or another.”
He also expressed his hope to see results from the next round of high-level meetings in early May.
As Pevkur stated, the same goes for Ukrainian involvement:
“Speculating now about the consequences — I hope we won’t have to go that far, and that the U.S. and Ukraine will maintain enough contact to understand that a good outcome from a ceasefire and peace talks can only happen if Ukraine is involved.”
Security expert Raivo Vare noted that the situation has led to a deadlock. Ukraine, he said, is doing everything it can to avoid being completely opposed to anything the Americans propose, but at the same time, it cannot fully agree with everyone either. Ultimately, he admitted that it is difficult to find a solution.
According to Vare, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio skipped the London meeting at the last minute upon realizing that Ukrainian and European stances had not moved closer to those of the Americans, making an agreement unattainable.
A leaked seven-point US plan confirmed that Washington is willing to forgo Ukraine’s NATO membership and recognize Crimea as part of Russia — both key demands Moscow made at the start of its invasion.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff, primarily responsible for the Middle East but drafted into the Ukraine-Russia talks, was expected to present the plan to Russian President Vladimir Putin last Thursday.
Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump threatened Russia with sanctions unless a peace deal was made but also opened direct talks with Putin, implying that Ukraine shared responsability for the war, which raised concerns from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, who insisted on being included in negotiations. Trump, along with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President J.D. Vance, has also stressed shifting US focus to China while urging Europe to take on more responsibility for Ukraine.
Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 and now claims the four easternmost Ukrainian oblasts – Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson – as part of the Russian Federation, even though it does not and has not occupied these oblasts militarily.
The article was originally published here: https://news.err.ee/1609673414/prime-minister-estonia-will-never-recognize-forcible-seizure-of-ukrainian-lands
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