Estonia's PM in Warsaw: we will continue to raise the cost of the war for Moscow

At a press conference held on Tuesday in Warsaw, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki informed he and his Estonian counterpart Kaja Kallas had discussed key topics related to Ukraine, NATO, and the EU. He said he was glad to know Estonia held similar views to those of Poland and stressed the importance common policy and support in the region.

Furthermore, Morawiecki argued that the current times were critical and could establish the situation for decades to come. "In difficult times, nations need proven leaders," he said, reminding that Kallas had recently won the elections in Estonia.

Polish PM also acknowledged Estonia's efforts with regards to the war in Ukraine and reassured it had been also noticed across the world, including Ukraine.

"We are aware that today's war in Ukraine is in a way a fight between David and Goliath, and David needs to have modern weapons to be able to win this uneven battle that is taking place there," Morawiecki said.

He also said Poland was taking part in efforts to locate Ukrainian children abducted by the Russians. "We also encourage Estonia to take part in this initiative."

The Polish PM also said that a large part of Tuesday's talks was devoted to the ways in which to explain Western European countries the true stakes of the war in Ukraine.

"We caution, because Russia is not a democratic country and Russia can allow itself to wage this war in a long-term perspective."

"Poland and Estonia lay too close to Russia to afford being neutral," he added. "That's why we strive for stronger security guarantees for Ukraine, just as we strove together for Finland and Sweden to join NATO as soon as possible."

"Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen. Here you can clearly see how Russia is trying to blackmail, manage the situation related to the agricultural market. We are in contact with Estonia and other partners from the entire belt of Central Europe, from this region, to convince the G7 countries on the one hand and the European Commission on the other about the need to intervene and maintain tough sanctions," Morawiecki said.

"The sanctions must be tough, but Central European states need to have adequate support in terms of protection of their agricultural products," he added.

Kallas advocated for a "total embargo of goods and trade with Russia" and said the issue is "circumvention of sanctions", with goods reaching third countries.

The Kremlin reaffirmed its position on Tuesday that the Black Sea grain deal is not working for Moscow, a day after the head of the United Nations handed Russia a letter with proposals to improve it.

The Estonian PM stressed that Russia's aggression against Ukraine was not only a European issue and a regional conflict. "What is at stake in Ukraine is the right to exist as a country. Russia is testing if conquering and colonising a country in the 21st century is possible."

"We will continue to raise the cost of the war for Moscow until Ukraine wins the war. We will make sure war criminals are held accountable and Russia’s export revenues are cut off. We must make the aggressor pay for everything it destroys," she underscored.

According to Kallas, "there’s no greater priority right now than sending ammunition to Ukraine". "It is important that the EU agreed to jointly procure 1 million rounds of artillery ammunition to Ukraine. Now this decision must be put in practice quickly. Because Ukraine does not have time. My government made the decision last week to send artillery shells to Ukraine," she added.

The head of Estonian government also spoke about the importance of cooperation between Warsaw and Tallinn within NATO. "The way to lasting peace is to end grey areas in European security. Grey areas are triggers for wars and instability. This is why Sweden and Finland decided to join NATO. This is why for peace in Europe, we need Ukraine in NATO and in the EU," she stressed.

"The stability of Europe is secured by a geopolitical European Union and by NATO that is able to defend Europe militarily."

Kallas said Poland’s role in NATO’s collective defence and in regional security was increasingly crucial. "Your planes are protecting our skies as part of the Baltic Air Policing Mission. Your soldiers regularly take part in our military exercises."

"Connections matter and being connected to friends matters. We are connected to Europe via Poland. We are committed to improving our connectivity – from energy, road and rail transport to military mobility and telecommunications," Estonia's PM said.

Finally, she thanked Poland for its "crucial role in supporting Ukraine’s fight for freedom". "Poland has given historic amounts of military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. This is as you rightly pointed out because we both know our neighbour too well. You have received millions of war refugees. You’ve helped ensure tougher sanctions on Russia. You have been at the forefront of mobilizing international support to Ukraine," she added.

"We have asked also the ambassador out to explain how China really thinks and well, so far they have been downplaying these comments. Maybe it was just not the overall policy that they have," Kaja Kallas said.

"But I think that we have to keep in mind that everybody's taking notes. How the international community really reacts to what is happening in Ukraine, when the tool of policy like aggression, when this policy tool pays off, then all the dictators or would-be dictators in the world are taking notes. Okay, you go to another country and it pays off because you get off with more territories. And that's why it can't just be acceptable. Everybody's freedom and peace is actually at stake here," she added.