Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna sharply criticized the resumption of contacts between European countries and Russia. Speaking at the Lennart Meri Conference on Foreign Policy and Security in Tallinn on Saturday, May 16, 2026, he called on allies not to succumb to illusions and not to intensify negotiations with Moscow.

According to him, the Russian Federation, against the backdrop of an alleged weakening of its economy, has intensified contacts with European countries.

Tsakhna's statement comes amid growing discussions in Europe about possible negotiation scenarios. Earlier, European Council President Antonio Costa stated that there was "potential" for negotiations with Moscow. For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that he sees his longtime friend and former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a potential EU negotiator.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called on Europe to abandon negotiations with Russia and continue sanctions pressure. The statement comes amid growing contacts between Moscow and European countries.