Estonian Foreign Ministry chief: Europe must fill gaps left by the US in supporting Ukraine

Jonatan Vseviov, Secretary General of Estonia's Foreign Ministry, says Europe must take a decisive role in supporting Ukraine, as news coming from the United States offers little additional hope. He made the remarks in an interview with Estonian media outlet ERR, assessing the situation in Russia's war against Ukraine.

A harder situation for both sides

Vseviov noted that as the war drags on, it becomes harder for both warring sides and for their supporters, including in Europe. In his view, the frantic activity seen in Russia is a sign of desperation. In Ukraine, the situation is complicated not only because Russia has deliberately destroyed civilian infrastructure for years, but also because people's hope of living normal European lives is under constant attack.

Starlink and intelligence sharing

Conflicting information has come from the US: nobody knows for certain, or is willing to say, who restricted Starlink, the satellite internet service. Reports are also contradictory on whether intelligence sharing has been suspended. Vseviov said he trusts the Ukrainians most, since they use the technology directly. By his latest information there were disruptions but apparently no complete shutdown. He added that a technology that cannot be relied on at the most critical moment cannot be trusted.

The US role

Vseviov concluded that the US cannot currently be counted on to use its power to support the victim against the aggressor. He hopes Washington will not side with the aggressor, but for now it is not backing the victim, so Europe must fill the gaps. He recalled that in the US Congress, support for Ukraine on Russian-aggression legislation has been overwhelming and bipartisan. He expects the US will ultimately make the right choices, but the question is when, since lives are lost every day.

Not only about money

Vseviov believes the money Ukraine needs to defend itself and keep the country running through a difficult winter will probably be found. More important, he said, is preventing things from getting worse, including supporting Ukraine if it rejects deals resembling Munich or Yalta. He cited Putin's proposal that Putin, Trump and Xi Jinping meet to discuss Ukraine. Second, Ukrainians must have hope and a future, which means moving the EU enlargement process forward while keeping high standards, and continuing pressure on Russia.