Estonian president criticised over remarks on dialogue with Russia

Lauri Läänemets, the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Estonia, has said he is irritated by remarks from Estonian President Alar Karis about the need for dialogue with Russia.

Source: Estonian public broadcaster ERR, as reported by European Pravda

Details: On 27 April, Karis said European countries should already be planning their actions for the period after the end of the Russo-Ukrainian war, including a model for relations with Russia, as this could happen quickly and unexpectedly.

Läänemets said President Karis's latest remarks that Estonia and Europe should be prepared for dialogue with Russia are surprising, adding that, like many Estonians, he does not understand what the president's programme is or what his overall plan is.

In his view, the president's remarks are at odds with the current foreign and security policy of both Estonia and Europe.

Parliament and the Estonian public need answers and broader explanations from the president, he added.

Läänemets said Russia has been hoping the West will eventually tire and break, but Europe understands this and is maintaining unity while seeking to defeat Russia. He added that Karis's message about preparing for negotiations runs counter to these efforts, as Russia will interpret it as a sign of division in Western unity and conclude that it could ultimately achieve its goals by military means. He said he does not understand the logic behind President Karis's remarks or their intended direction.

He also argued that there is currently no figure in the Estonian government with strong authority on foreign policy issues.

According to Läänemets, if Alar Karis's re-election for a second term comes down to a choice between dialogue with Vladimir Putin or pressure on Russia, it will not be difficult to predict what the decision of the Riigikogu, Estonia's parliament, or the Electoral College, a wider body of elected representatives that includes MPs and local politicians, will be.

Background:

• Earlier this year, Karis and Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa called for a EU special envoy to be appointed for talks with Russia.
• Estonian intelligence previously said it does not see a threat of Russia opening a new front in the Baltic states.

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