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"Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves calls for ‘physical presence on the ground’ in region as deterrence against Russia", CNN International

15.04.2014

Amanpour's full interview with President Ilves airs at 2pm ET, 2000 CET on CNN International.


In an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour on Tuesday, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves called for a "physical presence on the ground" in the region as a deterrence against Russia.

Estonia, a former Soviet republic that shares a border with Russia, is now a member of NATO. Its leadership has been outspoken expressing concern about Russia's incursion into Ukraine.

"We need more exercises," President Ilves said. "We think that the decision to increase the number of planes providing air policing in the region is a very good one."

"But given the uncertainty that we see to the east and the kinds of actions that we've seen in the east, that we need to make sure that others understand that this is not something to play around with."

Amanpour asked President Ilves what he thought Russian President Vladimir Putin's "goal" was.

"We are in new territory right now. The rules have been broken."

Russia's interference in Ukraine and annexation of terrority are "out of a playbook that we last saw before World War Two," the president said.

"So that makes it very difficult for us to actually be able to guess what is in one or another person's mind."


Original article on the CNN International webpage.