Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna asserts that Europe needs to present a united front against Moscow. In an interview with Politico, he urged European leaders to stop referring to Russian attacks as “hybrid” and instead label them as “terrorist” and “sabotage” actions, which he believes are part of a systematic effort by Russia against Europe, equating to a form of war.
These remarks followed Estonia’s announcement that Russian special services were behind an arson attack in August on a building in Tallinn used by Milrem Robotics, a company supplying unmanned ground vehicles to Ukraine. Tsahkna announced that three Latvian citizens accused of starting the fire have been handed over to Estonia and will face severe legal consequences.
The attack on Milrem Robotics is part of a series of similar incidents, including failed drone attacks in August at Leipzig-Halle Airport in Germany, which Berlin also attributed to Russian involvement.
Tsahkna emphasized that many individuals recruited by Russia for drone attacks and arson are motivated by “easy money” rather than ideology. He called for European countries to clarify that such saboteurs will face strict penalties to deter future incidents. “The message is that if you collaborate with Russian intelligence services, you will be caught and imprisoned,” he stated, cautioning individuals to think carefully before participating in such operations.
He further urged European governments to collect and share evidence to publicly attribute attacks to Russia, enhance coordination of intelligence and security services, and make clear that those collaborating with Moscow will face serious consequences.
“We Must Take Putin Seriously; He is a Terrorist,” Says Tsahkna
Tsahkna warned that the Kremlin aims to “divide our societies, destroy our unity, and exploit fear,” indicating that more severe attacks, potentially causing numerous casualties among Europeans, are likely if Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that the EU is not responding collectively.
The EU is working on a new security strategy expected later this year, which Tsahkna believes should enhance information sharing, invest in security services, and give countries the ability to respond swiftly to unconventional warfare.
Currently, Tsahkna stated, “Russia is not in a position to launch any large-scale military aggression or attacks against NATO.” However, he warned that this does not mean it could not happen in the future, urging preparation during this period. “We need to coordinate our intelligence and secret police services,” he added, emphasizing the seriousness of the threat posed by Putin, whom he described as a terrorist actively seeking opportunities to attack.
Additionally, Tsahkna highlighted the necessity for governments to communicate clearly with the public so that citizens understand what to do in emergencies without succumbing to panic.
