Estonia's prime minister won't soften his language on Russia

Prime Minister Kristen Michal said in an interview that he will keep speaking openly about the threat from Russia. A report citing sources said Pentagon officials had urged the Baltic states to tone down their rhetoric toward Moscow.

"I'm not going to hold back. Putin is a dictator who kills women and children, and he will keep doing so until he is forced to change course."

— Kristen Michal, Estonian prime minister

Michal said the US had not asked him directly, and that the subject did not come up when he last met Donald Trump, in Ankara this summer. Lithuania's presidential office also said it had received no such request.

Estonia's contribution to NATO

7 % of GDP (almost)

Michal said Estonia puts almost 7 per cent of its GDP into NATO's eastern-flank defence, and that calling a wolf a wolf is part of keeping people safe.