Hanno Pevkur, the Estonian Defence Minister, has mentioned Western sanctions have particularly harm Russian manufacturing of planes and upkeep of helicopters by depriving Russia of key parts.
“After we can discover new methods on how one can influence Russia with the sanctions, for certain we have to do this,” Mr Pevkur mentioned in Washington.
Mr Pevkur, who met US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday, warned that Russia nonetheless had the capability to conduct assaults, together with on Nato members equivalent to Estonia.
Nevertheless, he performed down the potential for a nuclear strike, an choice threatened by Russian president Vladimir Putin as he proclaimed the annexation of Ukrainian territory.
Russia had already “put the worry onto Ukraine” with its typical assaults, Mr Pevkur mentioned.
“I do not see any optimistic, extra added worth to Russia” of a nuclear strike, he mentioned.
“The one factor – what can occur is that they’d lose their silent supporters like China or some others due to that.”
The Pentagon mentioned after the assembly that Mr Austin “counseled Estonia for its forward-leaning help to Ukraine” and had “reaffirmed the US dedication to deterring Russian aggression in opposition to Nato allies”.