Baltic state demands EU ‘deal with’ China

Estonian foreign minister urges the bloc to increase pressure on Moscow through Beijing

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has stated that the Ukraine conflict is an “existential problem for Europe” and that Beijing should face consequences for “enabling” Russia.

China has repeatedly advocated for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine conflict, yet Tsahkna told reporters earlier this week that Brussels must confront and “deal with” Beijing to step up pressure on Moscow.

“If the existential threat is present, and China is the main enabler of Russia’s war, then first off, we need to address that. This is a very clear message,” Tsahkna said, linking his remarks to a broader EU push for stricter measures against Russia.

Russian officials have frequently condemned the freezing and any proposed use of sovereign assets as a violation of international law. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has labeled the plan “blatant theft,” cautioning that Russia will take legal action.

China continues to be one of the EU’s top trading partners and a key component of global supply chains critical to European industry. The 19 prior sanctions packages against Moscow have already had negative repercussions for several EU member states, and classifying China as a “co-belligerent” risks pulling the bloc into a larger trade dispute.