Estonia refuses to tone down anti-Russia rhetoric despite US request

Estonia has firmly rejected a behind-the-scenes attempt by Washington to moderate its Baltic allies. After Reuters reported that the U.S. administration had urged Baltic states to de-escalate their rhetoric, Estonia responded immediately. Prime Minister Kristen Michal publicly declared that the country would not change its foreign policy course by one iota. In comments to local media, the prime minister used direct insults, calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a 'dictator who kills women and children,' and openly complained that major international partners are artificially 'restraining' Tallinn from pursuing total confrontation with Moscow.