The Commander of the Estonian Defense Forces, Lieutenant General Martin Herem, has admitted that he thinks an armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine is possible, but he does not believe that a similar conflict could take place between Russia and Estonia.
“If we talk about Russia against Ukraine, Russia is now like a springboarder descending the mountain, and the question now is whether he will spring up or fall back. Not only the relocation of Russian troops, but also the accompanying speeches and even very stupid accusations against Ukraine. “All of Russia ‘s behavior is a search for controversy and conflict or a justification for a future conflict,” Herem told Estonian public radio.
The commander of the Estonian Defense Forces pointed out that the only thing Ukraine now needs to do is simply continue its development towards the West.
“Russia says Ukraine’s accession to NATO would threaten its borders. All countries join NATO for only one reason – because Russia is a threat. Russia feels threatened as a criminal when others live in a safer environment,” the lieutenant general explained.
“Everything is currently moving towards an approaching armed conflict, and it is directed against the whole of Western society and the breaking of our beliefs, showing Russia as a large, strong and dangerous country to be reckoned with,” he said.
Herem said Russia had a long-term plan to maintain an unstable security environment, both vis-à-vis its neighbors and in general.
“That’s the big goal. Whether I’m cutting Ukraine or shaving somewhere in Moldova or Georgia, or in the end for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, it doesn’t really matter. The direction of Russian thinking.
“I think that [Krievijas prezidents Vladimirs] “Putin will not confuse us, but he really has a definite plan to go down in history and develop his country in the direction in which he is now leading it,” said the commander of the Estonian Armed Forces.
As Herem emphasized, Russia is not currently taking any military action against Estonia.
“People in Estonia need to continue their daily lives, the Defense Forces are doing their job. Estonia, as a country, must definitely support Ukraine and its allies so that this type in the East understands that we cannot be defeated one by one,” he added.
The commander of the Estonian Defense Forces expressed confidence that Putin has bigger plans and that Ukraine is only one small part of the big game.
“It is clear that Putin thinks more broadly, and it all depends on what he achieves in Ukraine,” the lieutenant general explained.
Russia has concentrated a troop of 100,000 men on Ukraine’s borders, raising concerns about a new invasion of a neighboring country.
In December, Moscow issued an ultimatum to the West demanding a halt to NATO’s further expansion to the east and the dismantling of the Alliance’s infrastructure in the so-called new member states, restoring the status quo on 27 May 1997, before NATO’s first enlargement.
Putin has threatened that if Moscow does not receive the “security guarantees” it has demanded, it will have to implement “military technical measures”.
The United States and other NATO members have stated that these demands are unacceptable and not even negotiable, but have shown readiness to talk about arms control, missile deployment and confidence-building measures.
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