Estonia's President Criticized for Statements on Dialogue with Russia

The Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Estonia, Lauri Läänemets, stated that President Alar Karis's remarks about the need for dialogue with Russia irritate him. He made this statement on Monday, April 27, as reported by ERR, writes "European Truth." On that day, Karis stated that European countries should already plan their actions for the time when the Russian-Ukrainian war ends and their model of interaction with Russia, as this could happen quickly and unexpectedly. "The latest statement by President Karis that Estonia and Europe should be ready for dialogue with Russia is surprising. Like many Estonians, I do not understand what the president's program is, his overall plan," Läänemets reacted. In his opinion, the statements of the Estonian president sharply diverge from the current foreign policy and security policy of both Estonia and Europe. Läänemets believes that the parliament and the Estonian people demand answers and broader explanations from the president. "Russia hoped that the West would eventually tire and break. Europe knows this; we maintain unity and strive to break Russia. Karis's message about preparing for negotiations contradicts our efforts. Russia perceives this as a sign of division in the unity of the West and concludes that it can ultimately achieve what it wants through military means. I do not understand President Karis's logic regarding where this should lead us," the politician stated. He also believes that there is currently no one in the Estonian government who is an authority on foreign policy issues. "If the re-election of Alar Karis for a second term comes down to a choice between dialogue with Putin or pressure on Russia, it is not difficult to guess what the decision of the Riigikogu or the Electoral College will be," he added. Earlier this year, Karis and Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa called for the appointment of a special EU representative for negotiations with Russia.