Estonian President Promises to 'Bring Putin and Russia to Their Knees'

It is necessary to 'bring Russia to its knees' to stop its 'military machine' and end the war in Ukraine, stated Estonian President Alar Karis.

"We will do everything possible to bring Russia [and its President Vladimir] Putin to their knees. Only then can serious discussions about ending the war in Ukraine begin," Karis said in an interview with Yle.

He refrained from blaming all Russians for the fact that Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago and that Putin remains in power. Karis reminded about Estonia's recent history when the country was effectively occupied by the Soviet Union. "How did we behave under such a system's grip? Yes, there were some rebels who were imprisoned. But most people said what they were expected to hear and waited for the right opportunity," the Estonian president noted.

Karis expressed skepticism that Russia would change quickly after Putin's departure. "I don't really believe in that. In the early 1990s, Russia had its chance, but everything turned out differently," emphasized the Estonian president. According to him, several factors are needed for change, the most important being the willingness of people to take advantage of that opportunity.

"We may have to endure several more Russian leaders before something starts to happen," Karis said. For this reason, he believes ongoing pressure from the West on Russia is necessary so that ordinary Russians understand they need to take action.

Estonia is currently not planning to follow the examples of neighboring countries by closing its border with Russia. As Karis pointed out, the border remains open partially because people living in Estonia have relatives in Russia. However, if necessary, the border will be closed "very quickly," promised the Estonian president.