Estonian formin in New York: Trump spoke in a language Putin understands

TALLINN - Participating in the United Nations High-Level Week, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that US President Donald Trump's message yesterday that NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft violating their airspace was a strong statement delivered in a language that Putin understands.

"Putin only understands the language of strength, and that's exactly the language Trump spoke yesterday," said Tsahkna. "The US president gave significant political weight to the messages that all NATO allies expressed yesterday in the statement following the Article 4 consultations, which were convened at Estonia's request. We can be confident that NATO allies are firmly committed to collective defense."

According to the foreign minister, each case will, of course, continue to be assessed individually in the future, and decisions will be made based on risks and necessity.

Tsahkna noted that recent events show Estonia's efforts to push allies toward a clear response to Russian provocations are bearing fruit. On Monday, the UN Security Council met for the first time at Estonia's initiative, and on Tuesday, NATO held Article 4 consultations.

"We've received an unequivocal confirmation that there will be no compromises on the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty within the alliance, and NATO allies remain fully committed to Article 5," Tsahkna emphasized.

He also welcomed Trump's statements regarding Ukraine, calling them positive.

"Estonia has consistently stated that Russia has not achieved any credible breakthrough on the battlefield, and that with enough political and economic pressure, Russia can be defeated. President Trump, after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday, expressed the same view," said Tsahkna. He added that it is now critically important to rapidly increase international pressure on Russia. "Europe is on the right track here, preparing to adopt the 19th sanctions package."

As part of the UN High-Level Week, Tsahkna also participated in the event "Restoring Childhood and Humanity -- Advancing Peace in Ukraine Through the Return of Ukrainian Children," organized by Canada and Ukraine. The event focused on the situation of Ukrainian children deported by Russia and efforts to bring them back, and was led by Zelenskyy.

"Russia is using children as a weapon -- tearing them violently away from their Ukrainian roots, imposing Russian propaganda, and militarizing them," said Tsahkna. "It is the responsibility of the international community to continue applying full pressure on Russia to ensure every child can return home safely and enjoy a full childhood."

Tsahkna noted that Estonia has taken concrete steps to identify deported children, support their return, and assist in the rehabilitation of those who have come back -- including backing the establishment of a human rights center in the city of Zhytomyr, which opened earlier this year.

So far, more than 19,500 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia. In 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia's Commissioner for Children's Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, for organizing the deportation and illegal adoption of Ukrainian children.

The International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children was officially established on Feb. 2, 2024, to coordinate joint efforts by Ukraine and its partners. The coalition now includes 41 countries.

During the UN High-Level Week, Tsahkna also met with the Estonian community at the New York Estonian House, participated in an informal EU foreign ministers' meeting, signed the Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Workers initiated by Australia, and spoke at a high-level Beijing +30 event focused on women's rights. He has also held bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of the Maldives, Andorra, the United Arab Emirates, and New Zealand, as well as with the head of the International Crisis Group, Comfort Ero.