Thread by @jseldin

HAPPENING NOW: "War in #Europe started already more than 8 years ago when #Russia's annexation of part of #Ukraine took place" #Estonia FM @eliimets tells @CNASdc #CNAS2022

Signs #Russia pulling back from #Ukraine?

"At the moment we cannot talk about deescalation. It definitely takes quite some time to see" per #Estonia FM @eliimets to #CNAS2022

If it proves to be true, "we, from our side, welcome it"

"We have seen that they would like to reestablish the time of buffer zone around its borders" per #Estonia FM @eliimets on #RussiaUkraineCrisis

"Russia does not want to have democratic & prosperous countries around its borders"

"I am not surprised what I have seen" by #Russia around #Ukraine" per #Estonia FM @eliimets

"We have provided economic support. We have provided also military equipment support, but also of course the political support" to #Ukraine, per #Estonia FM @eliimets

"I believe that we are there" says #Estonia FM @eliimets when asked if allies with stay unified in sanctioning #Russia should there be another invasion of #Ukraine

More on sanctions: "Of course, there are some agreements that need to be made between our countries but from the EU side, our leaders are ready to meet immediately" per #Estonia FM @eliimets

#Russia-#Ukraine

"If there is another military attacks, then we definitely have to act decisively" per #Estonia FM @eliimets

For measures short of an invasion, allies must continue to "raise the resiliency" of #Ukraine

"The current security crisis in #Europe has clearly shown that the #UnitedStates has very important balancing power in terms of European security situation" per #Estonia FM @eliimets

"It is very important the UnitedStates continues to be part of this & continues to be active member of @NATO" per #Estonia FM @eliimets "It is very important that we have seen this leadership & we really hope this continues"

"We have seen this constant military pressure from #Russia side towards its Western neighbors" per #Estonia FM @eliimets "It clearly shows that this unstability that is created continues for quite some time"

#Belarus-"These military exercises in Belarus ... are another clear sign, violation of int'l law" per #Estonia FM @eliimets "It clearly changes the balance of military powers in #Europe if these kinds of exercises take place & if new military bases are created in Belarus"

"#Belarus has been a country which has also looked towards democracy & toward Western countries" per #Estonia FM @eliimets "It would have been nice to see another democratic country in our region. Unfortunately, this trend is reversed at the moment"

"If #Russia really chooses the other ways, they would have been much more welcomed in the int'l community" per #Estonia FM @eliimets

"Unfortunately, to assess the future we have to look at the past...we have not seen any positive signs or developments"

If #Russia again invades #Ukraine, "it would be good to see the enhanced forward presence as a permanent @NATO mission in out region" per #Estonia FM @eliimets "We would of course welcome the presence of the US in the #Baltic region"

Severe economic sanctions vs #Russia would impact #Estonia economy but FM @eliimets says it would not come as a shock - "We have experience"

"After 2014, when the EU also put forward the sanctions then we had to reorganize our export & import w/Russia in quite many sectors"

NEW: #Estonia FM @eliimets says "it would be good" for #Ukraine to be part of @NATO's Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in #Tallinn "so that also Ukraine could increase its resilience"