Estonia’s Prime Minister told Bloomberg in Budapest that European leaders need to increase their defense spending if they want to maintain their credibility with Donald Trump, a potential future US President.
Bloomberg reports that Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that the outcome of Russia’s war in Ukraine would have lasting implications for European security and values.
Michal, during an interview with the Estonian embassy in Budapest, said that “the European value-based-and-rule-based system” will also be decided by this conflict.
The 49-year old leader warned that allowing Russia a forceful alteration of Ukraine’s border would undermine European principles.
His comments come at a time when European leaders are gathering in Budapest to assess implications of the US elections and possible shifts in Ukraine policies under a second Trump presidency.
Trump’s campaign promise to end the war quickly, and his ambiguous position on Ukraine support has raised concerns. During Zelenskyy’s September US trip, Trump highlighted his relationship to Putin. He said, “We have an excellent relationship, and I, as you also know, have an excellent relationship with President Putin.”
Michal suggested Trump’s pressure to increase European defense spending might have positive results. “Last Trump was here, he told Europe that they needed to get a handle on things and invest more in their defense, and we did,” he said, adding that “Europe would step up.”
Since the invasion began two years ago, Estonia, along with its Baltic neighbors Latvia, and Lithuania, have consistently advocated increased military aid for Kyiv, and stronger sanctions against Russia.
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