Talk of concessions to Russia risks disaster for all – Estonian foreign minister

Ivanna Kostina, Iryna Balachuk — Tuesday, 5 November 2024, 19:02

Margus Tsahkna, Estonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Photo: Margus Tsahkna on Facebook

All demands for an end to the war in Ukraine must be directed solely at Russia and any discussions of concessions to Moscow are dangerous, Margus Tsahkna, Estonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, has stated.

Source: European Pravda, referencing a column by Tsahkna on ERR, an Estonian media outlet

Details: Tsahkna noted that calls for peace are becoming increasingly common.

Quote: "This is a dangerous trend, signalling that the West’s confidence in itself has wavered. Our hesitations, or even the slightest hints at concessions, only encourage Russia to continue on its aggressive course."

Details: Tsahkna recalled the Munich Agreement, which merely delayed the world war. He emphasised that the world now finds itself "in a moment very similar to 1938", but noted that it is still possible to avoid the mistakes made at that time.

Quote: "The Munich decisions of 1938 must serve as a lesson and a warning that concessions to an aggressor and Chamberlain-like aspirations for peace at any price will not bring lasting peace. Attempts to buy stability by feeding the freedom of other countries to an aggressor are doomed to end in disaster for all, as the aggressor’s appetite will only grow."

Tsahkna stressed that there is not even the slightest indication that Putin has abandoned his imperial ambitions or truly desires peace. Therefore, the mere suggestion of potential concessions or giving up Ukrainian territories is extremely dangerous – the aggressor’s appetite will only increase, giving it time to "catch his breath, regroup, and continue the bloodshed".

Tsahkna insisted that a just and lasting peace can only be guaranteed if the aggressor retreats to its borders, is held accountable for the crime of aggression, and compensates for the damage inflicted by the war.

"The losses for the aggressor must be clear. It must emerge from the war in a worse condition than when it started it… The only path to peace is Russia’s withdrawal from Ukraine and the preservation of Ukraine’s borders. All calls for an end to the war must be directed towards Moscow alone," Tsahkna stated.

Background:

A recent discussion in Rome between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte focused on "allied support for Ukraine’s legitimate defence".
According to Meloni, "the shared goal remains to create the best possible conditions for a just peace" and "the coordinating role that NATO can and must play to help Ukraine look to the future".

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