Estonian PM calls on EU to “strangle Russia” with sanctions instead of dialogue

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that the European Union should step up sanctions pressure on Russia instead of trying to establish dialogue with it.

The politician said this in an interview with Politico.

According to him, dialogue with Moscow is not the alternative that should be chosen, and European politicians for their part should take a tougher stance toward Russia. Michal stressed that Europe needs to show Russia its strength and unity.

“Europe has a plan that actually works — to strangle Russia economically with sanctions,” the Estonian politician noted.

The Estonian prime minister has repeatedly stated his hardline position toward Russia. According to him, Estonia is aware of the supposedly existing “Russian threat,” and therefore does not intend to abandon its anti-Russian rhetoric.

At the end, Reuters, citing sources, reported that Pentagon representatives had asked Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to soften their statements about Russia and not to “provoke” Russians.

Earlier, the governor of the Kaliningrad region responded to Estonia’s threats to shut off a gas pipeline.