Estonia’s Foreign Minister Defends Ukraine’s Long-Range Drone Strikes Amid NATO Spill-Overs

Estonia’s foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said the occasional landing of Ukrainian drones on NATO territory is an acceptable price for strikes that are increasingly damaging the Kremlin’s war effort. He stressed Tallinn will not urge Kyiv to scale back its long-range attacks, rejecting Russian accusations that the Baltic states are facilitating them.

Stray Ukrainian Drones in NATO Airspace Are ‘Price Worth Paying,’ Estonia FM SaysEstonian Foreign Minister called the fall of Ukrainian drones on NATO territory an acceptable price for strikes on Russia

Kyiv has recently increased long-range missile and drone strikes on Russian military sites, oil refineries and other strategic infrastructure far behind the front line, while Russia’s intensified electronic-warfare jamming has occasionally deflected drones toward neighboring NATO members, causing crashes in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland. About 60 % of Russian oil exports go via the Gulf of Finland, so strikes on ports hit a key revenue route.

Estonian Foreign Minister called the fall of Ukrainian drones on NATO territory an acceptable price for strikes on RussiaStray Ukrainian Drones in NATO Airspace Are ‘Price Worth Paying,’ Estonia FM Says

Tsahkna said Estonia is not happy about stray drones but will not ask Ukraine to halt its operations, describing attacks as targeting a vital artery of Kremlin. He dismissed Moscow’s claim of Baltic facilitation as baseless and warned that mediation could be used Putin to buy time and divide EU. He added mediators must agree on message.

Stray Ukrainian Drones in NATO Airspace Are ‘Price Worth Paying,’ Estonia FM Says

Latvia’s coalition collapsed after a scandal over its response to a stray Ukrainian drone, showing backlash. Some EU members may oppose sanctions, arguing mediators must stay neutral—a line Tsahkna described as an excuse and a very dangerous path. Russian officials continue to accuse the Baltic states of facilitating the attacks, a charge Estonia rejects as absurd.

Stray Ukrainian Drones in NATO Airspace Are ‘Price Worth Paying,’ Estonia FM Says

The sources give no exact count of Ukrainian drones landing on NATO territory, nor independent verification of Russia’s claim that the Baltic states are directly involved. Quantitative data on the impact on Russian oil output is also absent.

Estonian Foreign Minister called the fall of Ukrainian drones on NATO territory an acceptable price for strikes on Russia

• “But we are not telling Ukraine to stop this.” — Margus Tsahkna, Estonia’s Foreign Minister

Estonian Foreign Minister called the fall of Ukrainian drones on NATO territory an acceptable price for strikes on Russia

• “This is a strike on Putin's vital artery.” — Margus Tsahkna

Estonian Foreign Minister called the fall of Ukrainian drones on NATO territory an acceptable price for strikes on Russia

• “It’s not so optimistic anymore. The main reason is economic – because of these deep strikes.” — Margus Tsahkna

Stray Ukrainian Drones in NATO Airspace Are ‘Price Worth Paying,’ Estonia FM Says

• “If you have negotiations and we are mediators, we must be neutral,” — Margus Tsahkna

Stray Ukrainian Drones in NATO Airspace Are ‘Price Worth Paying,’ Estonia FM Says

EU officials continue to discuss who could represent the bloc in any dialogue with Moscow. Estonia urges that a unified EU position be set before any mediator is appointed, warning that Russian overtures aim to buy time and fragment European unity.

Estonian Foreign Minister called the fall of Ukrainian drones on NATO territory an acceptable price for strikes on Russia