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Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated that Russian ruler Vladimir Putin may be trying to draw Europe into negotiations on the war in Ukraine because he sees it as beneficial for himself.
He said this during the program Ukraina stuudio on ERR, UATV English reports.
The minister assessed the current state of negotiations as one in which the United States no longer plays a leading role.
“In essence, in their previous form, they [the negotiations] have ended. Now everyone understands that Putin’s desire is to draw Europe into the negotiations,” Tsahkna said.
He added that the talks that lasted for more than a year were not actually real negotiations, but simply conversations that gave Putin an opportunity to buy time. Now, according to him, the Russians are very actively trying to involve Europe in the process.
“The idea is precisely to draw Europe into the role of mediator. We see that European sanctions have done their job. I like how Ukrainians call them long-range and deep sanctions, meaning the strikes are really working. Now Putin needs to buy time,” the Estonian minister believes.
In Tsahkna’s opinion, by involving Europe, Putin would gain leverage for himself.
“If Europe were to take on the role of mediator, then we would no longer be talking about the next sanctions package that we are currently preparing. There is one very painful measure there that Putin fears: a complete ban on maritime services throughout the entire European Union and a whole range of other sanctions,” he said.
Tsahkna is convinced that the European Union must maintain a strategic pause, increase pressure on Russia, and “at some point bring Putin to serious negotiations, which he himself still does not want today.”
“The role of mediator means taking a neutral position in order to seek a compromise between Ukraine and Russia. That is absolutely not our goal. Our goal is to formulate and, if negotiations ever take place, defend what the European security architecture will look like,” the minister explained.
EU foreign ministers, during an informal meeting in Cyprus on May 27–28, are expected to discuss the advantages of possible candidates for the role of negotiator with Russia regarding a peaceful settlement in Ukraine.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb has expressed readiness to become the representative of Europeans in potential peace negotiations with Russia.
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