‘Putin only understands strength’: Estonian PM on Ukraine tensions

Kaja Kallas criticises Europe's reliance on Russian energy and says gas pipeline to Germany should be scrapped

Europe needs to end its reliance on Russian energy and Germany should accept that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline was never just a commercial project, the Estonian prime minister has said in an interview conducted against the backdrop of soaring tensions over Ukraine.

Kaja Kallas also said she detected a wider debate within Germany about its approach to Russia after Angela Merkel's departure, and questioned Berlin's ban on transferring Estonian weapons to Ukraine. The ban favours Russian aggression, Kallas said, since the weapons were intended for Ukraine's self-defence.