Estonian Prime Minister Michal refuses to soften criticism of Russia after reported Pentagon request to Baltic allies

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said Friday he would not tone down his criticism of Russia after Reuters reported that Pentagon officials had privately urged several NATO allies, including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, to moderate their public rhetoric toward Moscow.

“I’m not going to hold back. Putin is a dictator who kills women and children. And he will continue doing so until he is forced to change course,” Michal told Estonian outlet Delfi.

Michal said he had not personally received such a request from the United States and that the issue was not raised when he last met President Donald Trump in Ankara during the summer.

“Estonia, like the other Baltic states, speaks openly about the threat from Russia,” he said, adding that the country had maintained that position before and would continue to do so.

Reuters reported that Pentagon officials, including U.S. policy chief Elbridge Colby, had in recent weeks urged several European allies to avoid language Washington believes could further provoke Moscow.

According to people familiar with the discussions, Colby warned against “poking” Russia and referred to the danger of treating President Vladimir Putin like “a rat in a corner.”

The requests were described as private and cordial rather than confrontational, and the Pentagon declined to comment on the report.

Michal rejected the broader logic of restraining criticism of authoritarian leaders, saying appeasing dictators ultimately leads to humiliation rather than greater security.