European Union and NATO nations must expand sanctions on Russia and military aid to Ukraine to ensure Vladimir Putin cannot use the coming winter to undermine western unity, said Estonia's foreign minister Urmas Reinsalu to Newsweek.

According to Reinsalu, next steps should include further restrictions on Moscow's lucrative oil exports—a partial embargo is due to kick in in December—and measures on gas exports.

"Raising the price of sanctions could create a stronger push on the aggressor to start to think about ending the war."

"I think it would be strategically wrong to think that now we just have to be patient and wait for what will happen with the level of weapons delivery and sanctions we have reached. No, we have to ramp up."

"There's only one person who can end the war and this is Putin. If the price tag is going to threaten his power position, his pyramid of power, if we push in that direction through our aid and determination for sanctions, this is something that will be a game changer."

Winter looks set to exacerbate Europe's energy and cost of living crises. European leaders are trying to steel their voters against the coming struggles. French President Emmanuel Macron, for example, told the public that "freedom has a cost."

https://www.newsweek.com/putin...

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