Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said he will not tone down criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin after a report that Pentagon officials urged Baltic allies to moderate rhetoric on Russia, Digi24 reports citing Kyiv Post and a Delfi interview.

“I will not hold back. Putin is a dictator who kills women and children,” Michal said. He added that Putin will continue until forced to change course, and that conceding to dictators brings humiliation without preserving freedom. Estonia and its Baltic neighbours will keep highlighting the Russian threat, he said.

Michal said he personally received no US request to soften his tone and that the issue was not raised at his last meeting with President Donald Trump in Ankara in the summer. He also noted that some domestic critics accuse his government of not being firm enough.

Reuters reported that Pentagon officials, including Elbridge Colby, confidentially asked several NATO allies — among them Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — to moderate Russia-related rhetoric. Sources described the talks as cordial; the Pentagon and NATO declined to comment. Reuters could not confirm whether Colby was referring to Michal’s September remark calling Putin a “cornered rat.”

At October’s Brussels summit Michal backed Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, contrary to US pressure on Kyiv on that point. On 7 July Zelenskyy and Michal signed a drone agreement in Ankara. Moscow denies a sabotage campaign in Europe; Western intelligence services warn of the risk.

Image: Kristen Michal (Wikimedia Commons).

Sources consulted: Estonian PM refuses to tone down criticism of Putin - Digi24.