Estonia urges EU to pressure China over Russia
Speaking to journalists, Tsahkna stressed that Brussels must “deal with” Beijing to increase pressure on Moscow, linking China’s role in the war to a broader push within the EU for tougher measures against Russia. “If the existential threat is there, and China is the main enabler for Russia to wage the war, then first of all, we need to deal with that. And this is a very clear message,” he said.
The comments come as EU member states recently voted to maintain frozen Russian sovereign funds, bypassing objections from countries such as Hungary and Slovakia. The bloc is debating how to direct these funds toward Ukraine under a “reparations loan” scheme. Tsahkna argued that the EU must leverage these assets decisively to regain a role in US-backed negotiations over Ukraine’s future.
However, the plan to seize Russian funds faces criticism within the EU. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called it unlawful and likened it to a “declaration of war,” while Belgium has raised concerns over potential legal liabilities. Russia has condemned the move as illegal under international law, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova calling it “blatant theft” and threatening legal action.
China, one of the EU’s largest trading partners, has consistently called for a diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine conflict. Experts warn that treating Beijing as a “co-belligerent” risks sparking trade disputes, particularly given the EU’s reliance on Chinese supply chains and the backlash from previous sanctions on Russia.
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