Estonian president: Tear down the wall of restrictions we’ve built around Ukraine

In the West, the constraints we impose on ourselves are simply a reflection of our fears, vulnerabilities, and uncertainties—each of which only serves to empower the aggressor.

In January, President Alar Karis of Estonia held a meeting with his Ukrainian equivalent, Volodymyr Zelensky, in Tallinn. | Raigo Pajula/AFP via Getty Images

October 7, 2024, 4:00 AM Central European Time

Alar Karis serves as the President of Estonia.

In November 1989, when the Berlin Wall came down, I was 31 and working as a researcher at the Estonian Biocentre within the Academy of Sciences, juggling the responsibilities of raising two young kids. Back home in Soviet-occupied Estonia, not far from a military base that stationed heavy bombers armed with nuclear weapons, I witnessed the joyful scene of Berliners dismantling the wall that had separated them for thirty years.

I had hope that my kids would grow up in a Europe free from barriers, both in their minds and in reality.

It was an era filled with optimism for countless individuals, and for me, the highlight was the reestablishment of Estonia’s independence in August 1991. The strength of the free world had united powerfully, and for the first time since World War II, more than 220 million people in Eastern Europe found themselves with the opportunity to pursue a journey towards freedom and a better life.

In today's world, many of the aspirations from that time have been achieved. Yet, our dreams of enduring peace and our conviction that war in Europe was a thing of the past have been shattered. It currently feels as though chaos has broken loose, and the darker forces of the 20th century have returned. These unsettling figures seem to crave Stalinist agreements, territorial dominance, and raw power over the principles of international law.

During this period of turmoil, the boundaries we've established in the West are making the situation worse.

On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a comprehensive assault on Ukraine, aiming to capture Kyiv within three days and install a new government more aligned with its interests, rather than the democratic one that sought stronger connections with the EU and NATO. This strategy echoed previous justifications Russia had used to invade Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014.

In this significant geopolitical crisis, which is the most serious we've encountered in many years, it's essential to stay optimistic and maintain a clear perspective. The situation regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine is straightforward: Russia is the one attacking, while Ukraine is the one suffering.

No nation is the playground of another. Every country has the right to establish its own foreign and security policies. If an aggressor tries to undermine that right and oversteps their bounds, we will support the victim and hold the aggressor accountable. Russia has overstepped that boundary.

This isn't true! Our fears are unwarranted.

Just two and a half years ago, a lot of people believed that supplying military assistance to Ukraine would lead to increased conflict. That turned out to be untrue. Similarly, providing tanks and fighter jets to Ukraine was also seen as a possible escalation, but that assumption was proven wrong. The restrictions we've imposed on ourselves have continually been shown to be unfounded. They simply reveal our fears, uncertainties, and lack of resolve, all of which serve to encourage the aggressor, making them bolder and hungrier for more.

Russia imposes no constraints on its actions. Similarly, North Korea and Iran have not placed any limitations on how the Kremlin can utilize the weapons they provide. These missiles, drones, and bombs, supplied without any conditions, are taking the lives of Ukrainian women and children. They are also harming Red Cross personnel, destroying hospitals, shopping malls, and attacking ships that carry grain to Africa.

Despite providing Ukraine with Western weapons for its defense, we have imposed restrictions on their use. Specifically, Ukraine is not allowed to strike military installations or targets inside Russia that are responsible for launching missile attacks on children's hospitals.

These limitations are unjust, unethical, and detrimental. By enforcing them, we've created a divide: on one side, we courageously support Ukraine, while on the other, we hinder the effective use of the help we provide. We are essentially making it necessary for Ukraine to defend itself with one hand tied behind its back.

Let's go ahead and remove these limitations.

I want to reiterate a point I made in my speech at the U.N. General Assembly last month: While we can continue to criticize Russia for its horrific actions, if we don't take effective measures to stop the violence, future generations will judge us harshly. I also share the view of former NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who mentioned that providing military assistance to Ukraine before 2022 could have helped prevent this conflict.

Since the outbreak of the conflict, I have traveled to Ukraine three times. During my most recent visit a month ago, I explored a power plant that had been devastated by missiles fired from Russian territory. It struck me as a clear example of deliberate cruelty. This act is yet another war crime aimed at undermining the resilience of the Ukrainian people. The destruction of energy infrastructure in the winter not only deprives them of electricity, but in cities, it also means a lack of running water, disrupted plumbing, and obstacles to attending work or school.

Russia is willing to pay any price, be it financial or in terms of lives, to pursue its expansionist goals in Ukraine and Europe. It’s essential to make it clear to Russia that no nation can force its desires on its neighbors through military conflict. This implies that Russia cannot emerge victorious in this war.

In June 1987, President Ronald Reagan delivered a notable address in West Berlin, where he made a straightforward yet impactful request to those guarding the wall: "Take down this wall!" Remarkably, just two and a half years later, on November 9, 1989, the people of Berlin did exactly that.

Years later, we’ve ironically created a barrier of our own, compelling Ukraine to wage its struggle from within it, hindered and grappling with fresh Russian assaults while suffering increasing losses each day.

In other words, echoing Reagan’s sentiment, I urge everyone: Let's break down these barriers of limitations!