Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal told Euronews on the Europe Today program that Vladimir Putin cannot afford to stop Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Michal said he does not claim to fully understand the Kremlin leader, but he believes the logic of dictatorship explains why Russia continues its aggression, even amid ongoing negotiations. He compared Putin’s hold on power to a “bicycle”: if he stops, he falls. Michal also noted that Russia now has more troops under arms than at the start of the war and questioned what would happen to them if the fighting ended.
He warned that a premature peace without strong security guarantees could create instability not only in Russia but across Europe.
His comments come as the European Union plan to mobilize €90 billion to support Ukraine remains politically stalled. Michal expressed confidence that Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa would find alternative ways to unlock the funds.
Regarding frozen Russian assets, often discussed as a potential source of aid for Ukraine, Michal emphasized that they remain frozen and that sanctions are now more firmly secured than before.
He concluded by saying that if Europe cannot make major decisions affecting its security, it may trigger broader debates on how the EU collectively takes strategic decisions.
Source: EURO NEWS
