Poland's Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, right, and Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, left, address reporters following their talks on regional security and continuing support for Ukraine in its struggle against Russia's invasion, at the Foreign Ministry in Warsaw, Poland, Wednesday Feb. 14, 2024. Estonia's foreign minister said Wednesday that NATO has about three or four years to beef up its defenses against Russia because President Vladimir Putin is ramp up his country's “war machine" fullscale. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Poland's Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski waits for the arrival of his Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna for talks on regional security and continuing support for Ukraine in its struggle against Russia's invasion, at the Foreign Ministry in Warsaw, Poland, Wednesday Feb. 14, 2024. Estonia's foreign minister said Wednesday that NATO has about three or four years to beef up its defenses against Russia because President Vladimir Putin is ramp up his country's “war machine" fullscale. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Poland's Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, right, and Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, left, address reporters following their talks on regional security and continuing support for Ukraine in its struggle against Russia's invasion, at the Foreign Ministry in Warsaw, Poland, Wednesday Feb. 14, 2024. Estonia's foreign minister said Wednesday that NATO has about three or four years to beef up its defenses against Russia because President Vladimir Putin is ramp up his country's “war machine" fullscale. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Poland's Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski waits for the arrival of his Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna for talks on regional security and continuing support for Ukraine in its struggle against Russia's invasion, at the Foreign Ministry in Warsaw, Poland, Wednesday Feb. 14, 2024. Estonia's foreign minister said Wednesday that NATO has about three or four years to beef up its defenses against Russia because President Vladimir Putin is ramp up his country's “war machine" fullscale. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Estonia's foreign minister said Wednesday that NATO has about three or four years to strengthen its defenses as Russian President Vladimir Putin ramps up his country's “war machine."
Margus Tsahkna told a news conference during a visit to Poland's capital that Estonia does not view Russia as an immediate threat to it and the other Baltic states, Lithuania and Latvia, because Moscow is busy with its .
“But we must understand the Russian war machine has started in the full scale, the capabilities for production and the mentality as well, because Putin is controlling now everything,†he said alongside his host, Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski.
Tsahkna said Estonia's government estimates that it could take “three to four years†for Russia to prepare a “test for NATO.â€
Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia are considered among the most likely targets if Russia one day decides to risk an attack on the military alliance. Neighboring Poland, though much larger, also feels vulnerable. All four countries are staunch supporters of Ukraine.
As tensions soar between Russia and the West over the war, it emerged Tuesday that Estonia’s prime minister, Kaja Kallas, has been in Russia because of her efforts to remove Soviet-era World War II monuments. Kallas dismissed the move as a “familiar scare tactic" by Moscow.
Estonia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday that it summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires to express “indignation."
Tsahkna and Sikorski stressed the importance of maintaining strong support for Ukraine.
The Estonian foreign minister recalled how in 2017, when he was defense minister, Russia deployed 120,000 troops across the border of the Baltic states. Those troops have since been deployed to Ukraine, where many have been killed.
Tsahkna said it proves that “Ukraine is not fighting for us, but instead of us.â€
¹ú²úÓÕ»ó¸£Àû. All rights reserved.
For many Indigenous communities, access to financial services and economic opportu…
Trust in international money transfers has long been tied to physical places: a ba…
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Tax: | |
| Today's total: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
