Estonian formin discusses security situation with EU colleagues

TALLINN - Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna was in Luxembourg on Monday to attend a meeting of European Union foreign ministers, covering Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, on the Horn of Africa and in Venezuela, as well as the upcoming elections in Georgia and Moldova.

The focus of the meeting was on Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Tsahkna highlighted the fact that the European Union has made several important decisions in recent days that limit Russia’s options for continuing its hostilities and contribute to Ukraine’s victory. 

"Today we agreed on a package of sanctions against Iran in relation to its missile deliveries to Russia. These deliveries make it possible for Russia to continue its attacks against Ukraine and therefore pose a direct threat to security in Europe," Tsahkna said. "The EU is doing its utmost to prevent Russia from continuing its aggression. The adopted sanctions package is targeting individuals and entities directly linked to Iran's missile and drone programs and the delivery of military equipment to Russia."

Tsahkna also welcomed two decisions made last week -- using the windfall profits earned from the frozen sovereign assets of Russia as a loan to Ukraine and imposing a sanctions regime to counter Russia's hybrid activities. In the latter case, Estonia played a leading role as the initiator of the sanctions package. 

Monday's meeting was attended via video by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and talks covered assistance to Ukraine in light of Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and grain export infrastructure. Tsahkna said this called for accelerating the provision of military assistance to Ukraine.

The meeting also discussed the increasingly tense situation in the Middle East, including attacks on the UN peace-keeping mission UNIFIL.

"Attacks on UN peacekeepers violate international law and are completely unacceptable," Tsahkna said. "These attacks must end."

For the first time in two years, the foreign ministers of the European Union were joined by their British counterpart.

"The EU and the United Kingdom share many security challenges, which is why I am very glad we were able to discuss the most pressing global issues with our British colleague David Lammy," Tsahkna said. 

Speaking about the situation in Georgia, Tsahkna emphasized that democracy, transparency, ensuring fundamental rights and the rule of law are the fundamental values of the European Union and Tbilisi should not turn its back on them. 

After the meeting of EU foreign ministers, Tsahkna and his Nordic and Baltic colleagues are to go on a visit to Moldova to show support for Moldova's reforms and resilience in the face of intensifying hybrid attacks.