Margus Tsahkna

“We got the information that it will happen soon,”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna said Estonia has been assured that U.S. forces will remain in the region for the next rotation amid the Trump administration's review of its military footprint in Europe.

“Unfortunately, it’s already like normality.”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna said the various Russian attacks have become like normality for Estonia.

“Turning on the heat piece by piece is a test of us.”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna said Putin's incremental approach of turning up the heat is a test for the West.

“Putin wants to boil Europe and western part of the world as a frog,”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna likened Putin's strategy to boiling a frog by gradually increasing the pressure on Europe and the West.

“But we don’t see it.”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna quipped that Estonia does not see signs of Russia preparing a full-scale invasion despite growing European panic.

“Unfortunately, we don’t see any change for now.”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna said there has been no change in Putin's position toward a ceasefire so far.

“We are witnessing already, yes, any kind of different level attacks,”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna said Estonia is already witnessing different levels of attacks from Russia.

“The flag of the troops is so important to give the message to President Putin”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna said the presence of U.S. troops sends an important message to Putin about the red lines between Russia and NATO.

“NATO must be more flex and more dynamic, because these are the attacks which are not crossing Article 5,”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna said NATO needs to become more flexible and dynamic in responding to attacks that fall below the alliance's collective-defense threshold.

“If Putin is under heavier pressure, and also Ukraine is delivering more deep-strike capabilities and attacks, there will be a momentum when Putin may really start some kind of ceasefire or energy ceasefire, or real talks,”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna said increased pressure and Ukrainian deep-strike capabilities could create momentum for Putin to seek a ceasefire or real negotiations.

“President Trump has put lots of energy during the last year to find a way, but Putin has just played with him and also winning the time,”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna said President Trump has invested significant effort in seeking an end to the war but that Putin has used the diplomatic process to buy time.

“Putin can just decide like today or tomorrow to have a ceasefire,”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna said Putin could decide at any time to agree to a ceasefire, noting that Zelenskyy has signaled willingness to do so.

“NATO is working as a Swiss clock.”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna said NATO is functioning well in its response to drone incursions, comparing it to a Swiss clock.

“We don’t see that Russia is preparing a full-scale invasion or aggression. The other side of our borders is pretty empty.”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna said Russia is not preparing a full-scale invasion and that the other side of Estonia's borders is largely empty.

“He’s trying to divide the Western parts of the world. Divide the unity, divide this kind of consensus.”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna said Putin is trying to divide the Western world and break its unity and consensus.

“We have more and more this kind of panic in Europe that Russia will invade and will be full-scale aggressive against NATO and Europe and the Baltic states, Poland,”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna said in an interview on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly that panic is growing in Europe about a potential Russian invasion of NATO.

“What we see, and I also visited Ukraine last week, is that we need to put more pressure on Russia, because Putin understands only very clear language through strength,”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna, after visiting Ukraine, called for increasing pressure on Russia and said Putin understands only the language of strength.

“We have now drones coming in,”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna noted that drones are now crossing into Estonian airspace, following a previous incident involving Russian fighter jets.

“It’s sabotage attacks, terror attacks.”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna described Russia's current attacks as sabotage and terror attacks that do not cross NATO's Article 5 threshold.

“What Russia is doing now is waging these attacks, which are not crossing Article 5,”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna argued that Russia's current campaign of provocations is designed to stay below NATO's Article 5 collective-defense threshold.

“The main purpose for Putin is to play with the Western part of the fear of escalation,”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna said Putin's main purpose is to exploit Western fears of escalation.

“U.S. troops are keeping the peace in our region,”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna said the presence of American forces remains an important part of deterrence on NATO's eastern flank.

“Our intelligence, we see very, very deep into Russia, we don’t see any change,”

Margus Tsahkna · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-25

Tsahkna said Estonia's intelligence sees deep into Russia and has observed no change in Russia's posture.

“We don’t see that Putin is ready to have any kind of next step for peace,”

Margus Tsahkna · said 2026-09-22 · reported 2026-09-22

Tsahkna said Estonia does not see Putin as ready to take any next step toward peace.

“we just need to support Ukraine with more pressure on Russia.”

Margus Tsahkna · said 2026-09-22 · reported 2026-09-22

Tsahkna said Trump's efforts to end the war are well intentioned but argued Ukraine needs more support and pressure on Russia.

“Putin has just used Trump to win more time and put more pressure on Ukraine,”

Margus Tsahkna · said 2026-09-22 · reported 2026-09-22

Tsahkna said in an exclusive interview with USA TODAY that Putin is taking advantage of U.S.-led peace negotiations to buy more time on the battlefield.

“Of course, we all would like to have it.”

Margus Tsahkna · said 2026-09-22 · reported 2026-09-22

Tsahkna acknowledged that everyone would like to see peace achieved.

“Putin started this war. Putin can stop it.”

Margus Tsahkna · said 2026-09-22 · reported 2026-09-22

Tsahkna said Putin started the war and can stop it, disputing Trump's claim that Ukrainian strikes caused rising oil prices.

“This is not correct,”

Margus Tsahkna · said 2026-09-22 · reported 2026-09-22

Tsahkna criticized Trump's comments blaming Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure for record-high oil prices.