**Ceasefire in Ukraine Could Increase Security Risks for Baltic States**
The Estonian Defense Minister, Hanno Pevkur, has warned that a ceasefire in Ukraine could increase security risks for the Baltic states. He made these comments to the Financial Times on March 30.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has raised concerns about the safety of neighboring countries. The Baltic states, which are among Moscow‘s biggest critics and Kyiv’s staunchest allies, might become the next target for aggression.
According to Pevkur, Russia will continue to rearm and move troops to NATO’s northeastern border if a ceasefire is reached in Ukraine. He estimates that 300,000 Russian troops currently in Ukraine will be redeployed, making the threat level increase significantly.
**Warning from Lithuanian Defense Minister**
Pevkur’s warnings echo those of Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene, who also warned about Russia’s military buildup after a ceasefire. Sakaliene said that Moscow would use this time to speed up its military buildup and become an even bigger threat.
**Redeployment of NATO Troops**
The two ministers are also warning against the redeployment of any NATO troops from their countries to form a “reassurance force” in Ukraine. They fear that if NATO troops are stationed in Ukraine, it could create new risks for the Baltic states.
“We cannot fall into the trap that our forces are somehow fixed in Ukraine. Then we will have risks at our border,” Pevkur said.
**Russia’s Military Buildup**
Western leaders and intelligence agencies have warned about a potential large-scale war in Europe within the next five years, citing Russia’s increasingly aggressive posture.