“Vladimir Putin has one advantage only. As a KGB officer he learned to play head games with his enemies, be they dissidents or foreign powers. Fear is not the consequence of Russian actions but rather their object. It is Moscow’s chief weapon, and Russian leaders are adept in its use. But fear is also susceptible to the remedy applied by the Ukrainians today, and by many others in the past. Courage, as Churchill famously said, is the virtue that makes all other virtues possible. Without courage, the West cannot succeed, but with it, it cannot fail.”
From “The Strategy That Can Defeat Putin,”
- The Atlantic, 7. March 2022
"We are not afraid, but we are preparing.”
- Prime Minister Kaja Kallas
__________
Hr. Sööt signed the back of the painting with the date of 1974 with a phrase which roughly translates to:
“But one day it will be time”
 |
| Photos by Kathy Harju and Mathew Harju |
__________
Amid war in Ukraine, are Estonia's Russian speakers ready to embrace the West?
(Estonian World Review | Deutsche Welle)
“Russia's attack on Ukraine is putting Russian speakers in Estonia under pressure to decide which side of history they are on. The Estonian government is under pressure to help them feel more at home in the Baltic state. … "We have 70,000 gray passports in Estonia, we have 80,000 Russian citizens in Estonia," Narva native Margarita Källo told Laanet at Tartu University's Narva College. "I see it as a big problem, first of all for Estonia, for our security."
Or:
The West didn’t listen to the Baltic States nor Poland about the Kremlin
(Politico-Europe)
“The Western Europeans pooh-poohed and patronized us for these last 30 years,” said Radosław Sikorski, a former Polish foreign minister. “For years [they] were patronizing us about our attitude: ‘Oh, you know, you over-nervous, over-sensitive Central Europeans are prejudiced against Russia.’”
—
“The Easterners say they ran into a brick wall when they made pleas for increased NATO deployments, drew attention to cyberattacks, and called on Berlin not to let the EU be held hostage by giant pipelines pumping gas straight into Germany. The outspoken, pugnacious Sikorski, then defense minister, triggered outrage in thin-skinned diplomatic circles in 2006 when he dared compare the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream gas pipeline project, which bypassed Poland, to the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact of 1939 that divided Poland between the Nazis and Soviets.”
—
“Polish and Baltic leaders saw Russia’s invasion of Crimea in 2014 as a defining threshold that signaled that Putin needed to be stopped with a genuine show of force from the West, or otherwise he would go on to attack more targets. In fruitless meetings in Brussels, however, Polish and Baltic diplomats found that most of the European Union was reluctant to impose heavy sanctions on Moscow despite its invasion of an EU ally. … For linguistic and historical reasons — as well as pure fear of the danger across the border — the Baltic states often have excellent intelligence and analysis of Russian activity, but could find themselves roundly ignored. …”
__________
Friday 11. March
Juhtkiri: Rohkem julgust, Euroopa Liit!
(Postimees)
“Euroopa Liidu Versailles’s tehtud avaldus Ukraina kohta viib selle sõdiva riigi küll Euroopale lähemale, kuid teha annaks rohkem. See on nii Ukraina, Eesti kui ka terve Euroopa huvides.”
—
“Sõjaolukord on pannud mitu riiki oma poliitikat kardinaalselt muutma. Nii näiteks on Saksamaa, Rootsi ja Soome hakanud andma relvastust Ukrainale. Mõni nädal tagasi oleks sellist sammu peetud mõeldamatuks.”
Ukraina: Venemaa territoriaalsed edusammud on peatunud
(ERR)
“Venemaa president Vladimir Putin teatas samal ajal Moskvas üllatuslikult, et Ukrainaga peetavatel kõnelustel on "positiivseid arenguid". Ukraina väitel on rünnakuga ühinemas ka Valgevene väed.”
https://www.err.ee/1608528412/ukraina-venemaa-territoriaalsed-edusammud-on-peatunud
Ämari lennubaasi saabusid Taani sõdurid
(ERR)
“Taani kaitseväelased Jüüti Tragunirügementi kuuluvast Viikingikompaniist on osa Ühendkuningriigi juhitavast NATO lahingugrupist Tapal, mis on integreeritud Eesti 1. jalaväebrigaadi. Taani kontingendi moodustab umbes 150 sõdurit koos ligi 70-liikmelise toetusmeeskonnaga logistikateenistuses ja sõjaväepolitseis.”
https://www.err.ee/1608529165/pildid-amari-lennubaasi-saabusid-taani-sodurid
PPA launches emergency response plan to manage war refugee arrivals
(ERR)
“The agency's plan will create a joint headquarters which will include the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, the Social Insurance Agency, the Health Board, the Defense League, the Rescue Board and local governments. … the PPA will coordinate the refugees' arrivals.”
https://news.err.ee/1608529138/ppa-launches-emergency-response-plan-to-manage-war-refugee-arrivals
“PPA hakkab juhtima Ukraina sõjapõgenike Eestisse vastuvõtmist.” - ERR
“More than 14,000 war refugees have arrived in Estonia from Ukraine.” - ERR
“Miks palus Eesti abi Frontexilt?” - Postimees
“Estonia Closes Its Visa Centers in Russia & Belarus.” - SchengenVisaInfo
Ambassador: I hope the Finns realize time for joining NATO is short
(ERR)
“The Finnish government is set to present the parliament with a report that also treats with NATO accession. The process is coming along promptly, considering Finland's usual thoroughness and the Nordic search for consensus. There could be some clarity by early summer in terms of looming changes in Finnish foreign, security and defense policy. The defense budget will be hiked, that much is for sure and has been confirmed by Prime Minister Sanna Marin.”
—
“Finland and Sweden have been saying for years that they will try to make the NATO decision jointly and through consultations. Discussions have come along much faster in Finland today, while Stockholm can count on the latter being between it and Moscow. The Finns feel more in a hurry than Sweden.”
https://news.err.ee/1608528745/ambassador-i-hope-the-finns-realize-time-for-joining-nato-is-short
“Lithuanian government proposes to up defense spending to 2.5 pct GDP.” - Delfi
Niinistö Putinile: Ukraina vajab kiiresti vaherahu
(Postimees)
“Täna pärastlõunal avaldatud presidendi kantselei pressiteate sõnul keskendusid Niinistö ja Putin oma vestluses eranditult Ukraina sõjale. Kantselei teatel rõhutas Niinistö süvenevat katastroofi Ukrainas ja sügavaid inimkannatusi, mis avaldavad tugevat mõju ka lääne arvamustele.”
NATO: Russia is launching many air operations from Belarus
(The Hill)
“… it is hard to tell if Belarus has any of its own troops participating in the war as Russia, Belarus and Ukraine all use similar fighter jets.”
“Putin Recognizes Borders and Political Systems of Post-Soviet States Only If They Don’t Allow Outsiders to Influence Them.” - by Paul Goble
Thursday 10. March
Estonian folk singer Mari Kalkun releases a Ukraine-themed song
By Silver Tambur, Estonian World
“Somewhere There’s War.”
—
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGDeZcjHIz8
Estonian cities struggling to find accommodation for Ukrainian refugees
(ERR)
“As of Thursday, 12,488 Ukrainians have arrived in Estonia and 4,000 of that number have been children. Of the total number, 3,002 were people transiting on to other countries. … NGO's Eesti Pagulasabi, Mondo and the Center for Human Rights are now demanding a plan from the government for when Estonia has reached the 10,000 refugee limit.”
“Refugees in Estonia: The most important thing is that there is no war here.” - ERR, 9. March
“What do Russians in Estonia think about the war in Ukraine?” - Deutsche Welle via Estonian World, 8. March
“Baltic nations help Ukrainians defend themselves.” - Washington Diplomat
Interview: Toomas Hendrik Ilves
(Lawfare - podcast)
“David Priess spoke with Ilves about his parents' experience fleeing wartime Estonia as Russians started mass deportations to Siberia, his education and early exposure to coding in 1971, the cyberattacks of 2007, how the government and society responded, how others in Europe reacted to this and other Russian provocations …”
https://shows.acast.com/chatter/episodes/recovering-from-a-russian-attack-with-toomas-ilves
“Interview: Former President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga.” - RFERL
The Baltics look to Britain to firm up NATO support
(Politico-Europe)
“Security cooperation between the U.K. and the three Baltic states — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — has long been regarded as strong and unaffected by the drama of Brexit.
But since Russia invaded Ukraine last month, this relationship has taken on a new dimension, and become a clear axis in Europe’s wider security debate. The Baltics have compiled a “wishlist” of demands to better protect their borders, including permanent NATO bases and air defense systems, which the region does not currently have. They are painfully aware that Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded in December that NATO withdraw all its forces from the region, once part of the Soviet Union. Their requests have met with a sympathetic response in London, where the government is happy to support their case. …”
https://www.politico.eu/article/baltics-uk-security-nato-fears-russia-attack/
“Jüri Luik: Eestile on vaja püsivat õhukaitset.” - ERR
“Eesti ja Soome lasid õppusel Stingereid.” - Postimees
“Rutjal toimusid Stingeritega õhutõrje lahinglaskmised.” - ERR
“Are the Baltic republics ready?” - Deutsche Welle, 5. March
“Will NATO draw a red line for Putin?” - Deutsche Welle, 8. March
“The next 3 years will be critical for European security.” - Delfi
“Latvian Defense Minister Demands Weapons from Germany.” - Spiegel
“Briti erukindral: NATO satub varem või hiljem Venemaaga vastakuti.” - ERR
How NATO guarantees the security of the Baltic states
By Michele E. Commercio, London School of Economics
“While Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has generated concern – to say the least – in neighbouring post-Soviet states like Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, these countries are in a fundamentally different situation than Ukraine that, in effect, renders them secure from Russian aggression. … These security concerns are grounded in the ugly history experienced by the Baltic peoples in 1940, when the Soviet Union illegally occupied and annexed three independent states while the international community essentially looked the other way.”
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2022/03/07/how-nato-guarantees-the-security-of-the-baltic-states/
__________
Putin’s War
__________
Moscow to Expand List of ‘Unfriendly’ Countries and Impose Real Costs
By Paul Goble
“Moscow political analyst Marat Bashirov says the new list won’t be anything like the former because “now it is perfectly clear that we are all in a new world. That which was the case ten days ago and that which is the case now are two very different worlds.”
http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2022/03/moscow-to-expand-list-of-unfriendly.html
Russian military’s corruption quagmire
(Politico-Europe, 8. March)
“Systemic corruption in Russia's defense forces could explain the underwhelming military performance. … On the operational level, the corruption in defense procurement has also likely undermined logistics, manifesting in soldiers receiving inadequate equipment and supplies on the ground. Poor logistics slows down the advancement of troops, undermines their morale and hinders military effectiveness.”
—
“Early on in the invasion, there were accounts indicating that some Russian soldiers received rations that had expired in 2015. Most companies responsible for providing food to the Russian military are connected to Yevgeny Prigozhin — the patron of PMC Wagner, the mercenary organization, and sponsor of the Internet Research Agency …”
https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-military-corruption-quagmire/
Moscow patriarch stokes Orthodox tensions with war remarks
(AP, 8. March)
“Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, leader of Russia’s dominant religious group, has sent his strongest signal yet justifying his country’s invasion of Ukraine — describing the conflict as part of a struggle against sin and pressure from liberal foreigners to hold “gay parades” as the price of admission to their ranks. … with no mention of Russia’s widespread invasion and its bombardment of civilian targets.”
Even Russian State TV Is Pleading With Putin to Stop the War
By Julia Davis, Daily Beast, 10. March
“State propagandists called for Putin to end the “special military operation” before “frightening” sanctions destabilize his regime and risk civil war in Russia.”
An Open Letter from Ukraine’s first lady
(BNN, 9. March)
“Olena Zelenska, the first lady of Ukraine, has published an open letter to foreign media. In it, she evaluates that Russia is currently committing a mass murder of Ukrainians and emphasised the need of closing Ukrainian air space. Zelenska has also expressed the hope that life, not death would win this war.”
https://bnn-news.com/ukraines-first-lady-despite-all-this-horror-ukrainians-do-not-give-up-233061
“Ukrainian women are showing the world what they’re made of in the fight against Russia.” - Task & Purpose
Voices Of Ukrainian Women In Wartime: 'How Can The Heart Bear It?’
(RFERL, 8. March)
Yulia: “I have an aunt and a sister in Estonia, and I want to leave my child with them and get back home. My parents are still in Kharkiv. I'm worried about them all the time. They live in a high-rise building, so I'm praying every second …”
—
Hanna: “When the artillery barrages started, I went down into the shelters. I thought I would help out there for four hours or so. But I ended up staying for four days. There were so many children; some of the women were carrying newborn babies. Someone had to wash those children, help make them some porridge. Bring things, distribute them, talk to people, help to calm them….”
—
Lyudmila: “Every one of us has relatives in Ukraine, family in Ukraine. Everyone. There used to be the Soviet Union and we were all the same. Why is it that now brothers should go fight against brothers? What is the point of this war? I don't know. I just want it to end as soon as possible. I want my son to come home. That is all that I want. …”
—
Unidentified: “This is a catastrophe. Hitler never did the things that they are doing now. They are led by a psychopath who has zombified his whole country so that they don't believe what is being done to us here. I have a friend who lives in Russia, and I told her about all this, and she just said, ‘It is your Nazis who are doing it.’ That is how those bastards have zombified them. It is horrible. … My life began during a war, and unfortunately it is ending with this horrible war.”
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-war-international-womens-day/31743354.html
Russia’s Antiwar Protesters Are Terrified And still marching
(New York Magazine, 9. March)
“Almost as quickly as the invasion in Ukraine began, so too did antiwar protests in Russia, a challenge to Vladimir Putin’s regime that has been met with a fierce response. Thousands gathered in the country’s largest cities, and at least 13,000 protesters have been arrested since February 24, according to OVD-Info, a human-rights organization that advocates for freedom of assembly in Russia. … Most protesters were in their 20s and early 30s, and many say the generational divide is a symptom of different media diets. While younger generations get their news from Instagram, Telegram, or Facebook, older generations tune in to state-run TV. “We say they were ‘brainwashed by TV,’” said Anastasia, a 30-year-old in St. Petersburg.”
“UN says more than 2.5 million refugees have left Ukraine.” - The Hill
“Russian activists defy Putin to protest war in Ukraine.” - Deutsche Welle
“Z” Is the Symbol of the New Russian Politics of Aggression.” - New Yorker
“How a 'fact-checking' website is spreading Russian propaganda.” - Deutsche Welle
“Ukrainian Warfare Tactics Greatly Impact Russian Advance.” - Warrior Maven
“Putin is likely angry and frustrated and has no sustainable political end game.” - The Week, 8. March
“Arming Ukraine: 17,000 Anti-Tank Weapons in 6 Days.” - New York Times
“Opinion: We are not at war with the Russian people.” - Washington Post
“Over 200 Companies Have Withdrawn from Russia.” - Yale School of Management
“Moldova worries it might be next.” - Washington Post
“Urban combat is the great equalizer.” - Task & Purpose
“Putin’s solo path to war.” - Christian Science Monitor
“Inside Russia’s Anti-Putin Protests.” - Mother Jones
__________
Wednesday 9. March
Tallinnas mälestati märtsipommitamises hukkunuid
(ERR | Postimees)
“Kolmapäeval möödus 78 aastat Nõukogude Liidu lennuväe pommirünnakust Tallinnale. Tallinnas mälestati märtsipommitamises hukkunud kaasmaalasi ja Ukrainas Venemaa sissetungi tõttu hukkunuid. 1944. aasta 9. märtsi õhtul ja sellele järgneval ööl korraldas Nõukogude õhuvägi Tallinnale kaks pommirünnakut, mille tõttu hukkus 554 Eesti kodanikku, 50 saksa sõdurit ja 121 sõjavangi.”
—
“Kahes rünnakulaines hävis kokku 1549 hoonet ja 3350 sai kahjustada. Tollasest linna elamispinnast moodustas see ligi kolmandiku. Pea 20 000 elanikku jäi ilma oma kodudest. Hävis rahvussümbol Estonia teater ja vanalinn sai rängalt kannatada Harju tänava piirkonnas.”
https://www.err.ee/1608526346/tallinnas-malestati-martsipommitamises-hukkunuid
—
“Tallinn commemorates 1944 March bombing, war in Ukraine.” - ERR
“Põlevat Tallinnat näinud naine: katkistest koduakendest paistis igas suunas lõõmav tulemeri.” - Delfi
Kaja Kallas address to the European Parliament
(ERR)
“… you could say we Estonians have some experience in being deported and fleeing wars. And we also have some experience with Russia, which we have been trying to share with the rest of the EU since we joined. It was 78 years ago today that the Red Army bombed my hometown Tallinn to the ground. But my mother … always taught me that it was impolite to say "I told you so."
https://news.err.ee/1608526109/kallas-we-knew-our-neighbor-then-and-we-know-our-neighbor-now
Kallase Euroopa Parlamendi kõne täistekst.- Vabariigi Valitsus
“The EU has a 'moral duty' to make Ukraine a member state: Estonia PM.” - Euronews
Sõjapõgenikud Eestis: kõige olulisem, et siin pole sõda
(ERR)
“Ukraina põgenike hulk on ÜRO pagulasameti andmeil jõudnud juba kahe miljonini. Tuhanded ukrainlased on tulnud ka Eestisse siinsete sugulaste juurde, olles tänulikud üksnes võimaluse eest elada pideva hirmutundeta.”
https://www.err.ee/1608525167/sojapogenikud-eestis-koige-olulisem-et-siin-pole-soda
“Estonia blocks e-Residency for new Russian, Belarusian citizens.” - ERR
“Estonia Suspends e-Residency Scheme, Tourist Visas for Russians.” - The Moscow Times
“Kapo: Vene kodanikelt relvaloa äravõtmist tasub kaaluda.” - ERR
“Sõda Ukrainas on tekitanud Eesti ehitusturul tööjõu- ja materjalipuuduse.” - ERR
Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas Press Availability at Stenbock House
(US State Department)
“Kallas: We need to be prepared that the worst is still to come.” - ERR
Fake news about Ukrainians attacking Russians in Estonia circulate in social media
(Estonian World, 5. March)
“Today’s examples are shared posts about an elderly lady being attacked in a bus to Kopli [in Tallinn]. They’re specifically saying it was bus number 73 that actually does go to Kopli. There was an example of a woman being attacked in Pae Park being stabbed. There was an example of Ukrainians humiliating Russophones at Reidi Road. None of these events were true, police have checked them all.” Said Aivar Alavere, the police board’s crisis manager.
“Pealtnägija: kes on Kremli propaganda staarid?” - ERR
“Postimees newspaper launches Ukrainian language website.” - ERR
Moscow demands that Baltic countries protect Russia’s embassies
(Reuters)
“… after a Russian diplomat was attacked in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, the Russian RIA news agency said. "We are warning Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn that they are responsible for the consequences of the anti-Russian psychosis they have unleashed," the Russian foreign ministry was quoted as saying.”
“After Moscow disseminated demands to the Baltic States, experts agree: the regime is trying to take advantage of it.” - Lithuanian Tribune
“Lithuania names road leading to Russian embassy ‘Ukrainian Heroes Street’.” - The Guardian
Belarus has effectively ceded control of their military to Moscow
(The Guardian)
“Four days after the invasion began, Belarus President Lukashenko revoked his country’s post-cold war constitutional neutrality after a staged referendum gave him clearance to host not just Russian forces permanently but Russian nuclear weapons, removed from the country after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.”
—
“The new Belarus military doctrine appears to remove any remaining facade of independence in Minsk. Moreover, the move to abandon its nuclear-free status and allow Russia to place nuclear weapons on Belarus soil raises an immediate strategic alarm for the west. It also coincided with Putin’s 28 February announcement that he was putting Russia’s nuclear force on alert.”
“Does an Elite Exist in Belarus? Two Minsk Scholars Have Doubts.” - Paul Goble
“Belarus is also an aggressor and must be sanctioned just like Russia.” - Baltic Times
“Tsikhanouskaya tells Estonia: Let's separate regime and Belarusians.” - BT
Tuesday 8. March
Prime Ministers of Finland and Estonia meet in Tallinn
(Valtioneuvosto)
“In connection with their meeting, the prime ministers received a report on Finnish-Estonian relations, which was commissioned jointly by the countries’ governments and has been drawn up over the past year.”
https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/10616/prime-ministers-of-finland-and-estonia-meet-in-tallinn
“Estonian PM promises "lightning quick" ratification if Finland submits Nato application.” - Yle
“Finland outlines plans to increase defence co-operation after meetings with US, Sweden.” - Helsinki Times
“If Putin succeeds in Ukraine, he may ‘test the unity of Nato’ next, warns Estonia’s PM.” - The Times, UK
“US assures nervous Baltics of NATO protection against Russia.” - AP
“Most Finnish MPs decline to reveal Nato stance.” - Yle
Soome peaminister Sanna Marin: Arutelu NATO-ga liitumise üle tuleb kiire
(ERR)
“Eesti valitsusjuht Kaja Kallas kinnitas, et Eesti tervitaks Soome ühinemist alliansiga ning ratifitseeriks selle välgukiirusel. "Me ei venita, aga peame väga põhjaliku debati sel teemal. Praegu kaalume, mil moel see arutelu tuleks pidada, kuna otsus puudutaks nii Soome kaitsejõudusid, laiemalt julgeolekut kui ka majandust," ütles Marin pressikonverentsil.”
https://www.err.ee/1608523556/marin-arutelu-nato-ga-liitumise-ule-tuleb-kiire
“Tallinna külastanud Sanna Marin lubas põhjalikku ja kiiret NATO-debatti Soomes.” - Postimees
“Marin ja Kallas Pressikonverents.” - Postimees
“Interview: Estonian Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets.” - France 24
“Omniva annab Ukraina toetuseks välja uue postmargi.” - ERR
When Finland Mattered — And Why It Matters Again
(Politico, 7. March)
“Finland has a long border with Russia, and despite its cultural ties to Scandinavia and Europe, Russian leaders have long considered it inside their sphere of influence. In practice, this means that Finland has repeatedly found itself in the middle of East-West standoffs. …”
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/03/07/finland-mattered-why-matters-again-00014580
Danish troops and equipment arrive in Estonia
(ERR)
“Transport ship bringing to Estonia Danish Piranha V armored personnel vehicles and other equipment docked in Paldiski on Monday …”
https://news.err.ee/1608523583/danish-troops-and-equipment-arrive-in-estonia
“Taani kaitseväelased ja tehnika saabuvad Eestisse.” - Eesti Kaitsevägi
“Estonia bans citizens, residents from joining Russia, Belarus army.” - Euractiv
“British military vehicles in Estonia headed towards Russian border.” - News Au
And Finally:
How This Superyacht Became an
Overnight Geopolitical Mystery
(Architectural Digest)
"No one, not even the Italian police, can identify who the enormous vessel belongs to, which leads the world to believe it may be someone tied to one of the world’s most currently despised leaders: Vladimir Putin."
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/superyacht-became-overnight-geopolitical-mystery
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_______
____
