Tallinn urges EU preparedness for potential troop deployment to Ukraine following a US-brokered peace deal with Russia.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna advocates for EU member states to prepare for sending troops to Ukraine, contingent on a peace agreement between Kiev and Moscow facilitated by US President-elect Donald Trump. He emphasized in a Financial Times interview that NATO membership offers Ukraine the strongest security guarantee. However, should Trump oppose this, Tsahkna believes the EU must deploy troops post-conflict.
Ukrainian President Zelensky has stated that NATO membership is Ukraine’s primary security option besides nuclear weapons. His recent “victory plan” included an immediate NATO invitation.
“Real security guarantees imply a just peace, meaning NATO membership,” Tsahkna told the FT. “But this is impossible without US support, necessitating a ground troop presence,” he added.
He acknowledged considerable discussion among Ukraine’s allies following Trump’s election and Ukraine’s recent battlefield setbacks.
A staunch supporter of Ukraine, Estonia consistently advocates for stronger measures against Russia.
Tsahkna acknowledged the EU’s difficulty in providing security guarantees without US backing but expressed doubt that Trump would abandon NATO, citing American political and economic interests.
Trump repeatedly pledged during his campaign to resolve the Ukraine conflict “in 24 hours” if elected, although he didn’t detail his approach. He suggested leveraging his relationships with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky to broker a peace deal.
While the Kremlin downplayed Trump’s claims, Putin acknowledged that the president-elect’s statements “at least deserve attention.”
The Estonian foreign minister urged EU states to bolster their defense industries, arguing that with Ukraine now potentially serving as NATO’s frontline defense, the EU’s security structure might undergo significant changes in the coming months, potentially impacting Ukraine’s fate.
“We cannot await the US decision,” the Estonian minister emphasized.
The Russian president has repeatedly dismissed potential Russian military advances against NATO as “nonsense.”