Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated that the prospect of Ukraine’s membership in the North Atlantic Alliance must remain open, and the country should receive reliable security guarantees. He emphasized this in an interview, highlighting that no third party, including Russia, has the right to influence this decision.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Estonia’s Position on Ukraine’s Security
In his comments, Tsahkna mentioned that former U.S. President Donald Trump does not support Ukraine’s accession to NATO at this stage, but this issue should remain relevant for the future. He noted that Ukraine’s future cannot be dictated by the will of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin.
“(U.S. President Donald) Trump clearly stated that he does not support Ukraine’s accession to NATO at this moment. However, this option must remain open for the future. It cannot be dictated by Putin,” emphasized the head of the Estonian foreign ministry.
The Estonian Foreign Minister pointed out that Ukraine already occupies an important place in the field of European security. The country’s armed forces number nearly a million servicemen with years of combat experience, and the defense industry is dynamically developing and implementing cutting-edge innovations.
NATO Membership and Security Guarantees
Margus Tsahkna emphasized that security guarantees must be mutual: Ukraine will not only receive support but will also become a significant part of Europe’s collective security system. In his opinion, after the war, Russia will have to carefully weigh its actions before deploying troops near NATO borders, as Ukraine will become an integral part of this security architecture. According to the minister, Ukraine has already proven its readiness to defend its own freedom.
Currently, Ukraine is officially on an “irreversible path” to NATO membership, which was confirmed at the Washington Summit in 2024. However, there is currently no consensus among alliance member countries regarding an immediate invitation for Ukraine to join the organization.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte noted at the end of 2025 that Ukraine will become a member of the alliance when the appropriate conditions are created and an agreement is reached among allies.