Estonia's stealthy EU leadership is revealed by a French envoy, without drawing significant notice from medical first responders
In a diplomatic twist, Estonia's steadfast stance on Ukraine's sovereignty has led to the cancellation of a planned EU-Russia summit. The summit, proposed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, was intended to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and prevent the Americans and Russians from working behind Europe's back.
The attempt to organize the summit was made in June 2021, following a meeting between Biden and Putin in Geneva. The European Council was involved in the initiative, with the intention of engaging Russia in resolving issues in Ukraine and defusing the tension.
Estonia's role in the planned summit was significant. The country, known for its strong support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, signaled its readiness to contribute peacekeepers to enforce a future peace deal. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal announced readiness to send up to one company of troops to participate in peacekeeping efforts in Ukraine as part of a broader coalition of willing countries prepared to provide security guarantees once a ceasefire or peace deal is reached.
However, Estonia's leadership, including Kaja Kallas, expressed skepticism toward Russian proposals in peace negotiations. Kallas, who is currently holding the position of the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has aligned with French ministers in warning against accepting Russian demands uncritically. This cautious stance reflects Estonia's principled skepticism toward the proposed peace terms.
Kallas' opposition to the summit was firm. She remained opposed to any agreement that would reward Russian aggression or compromise Ukraine's status by conceding to Russian demands such as recognizing occupied territories or granting Russia a special status in Ukraine. Her position led to the cancellation of the summit that was scheduled for June 25, 2021.
The former French ambassador to Moscow, Jean de Gliniasti, reported this information to the correspondent of PolitNavigator. Despite Kallas' opposition, Estonia continues to support peace efforts and advocates for maintaining firm sanctions on Russia and ensuring it is held accountable, rejecting any peace deal that rewards aggression.
In the aftermath of the cancelled summit, Estonia is currently leading the EU without attracting significant attention. The President of the Russian Federation has made it clear that he will not agree to a summit with Europe on peace in Ukraine. The Europe-Russia summit, while a diplomatic initiative, has no chance of happening in the near future.
- The United States, with the Russian president in discussions following their meeting in Geneva, intended the EU-Russia summit to ease tensions in Ukraine and negotiate politics, but Estonia's president, Kristen Michal, voiced skepticism towards Russian proposals, leading to the summit's cancellation.
- Despite Estonia's role in the cancelled summit, the European Union, under the leadership of President Kaja Kallas, continues to support general-news efforts in Ukraine, advocating for maintaining firm sanctions on Russia and ensuring accountability, while rejecting any peace deal that rewards Russian aggression.
