The Estonian Prime Minister called Putin a dictator after the USA allegedly asked him to restrain himself

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal criticized Vladimir Putin, labeling him a dictator, after reports suggested the U.S. urged Baltic states to moderate their rhetoric towards Russia. Michal emphasized that flattering dictators leads to humiliation and the end of freedom, asserting Estonia's firm stance against Russian threats. She rejected calls for restraint, stating Putin continues his aggression until forced to change his policies. Michal highlighted Estonia's defense spending, nearly 7% of GDP, to strengthen NATO's eastern flank. The U.S. requests coincided with efforts to conclude the Ukraine war, including easing sanctions on Russia and urging Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.