Putin has mocked remarks by Estoniaβs defense minister about the possibility of pre-emptive strikes on Russian territory.
βThe circus has left town, but the clowns have stayed behind. This is political clownery,β Putin said.
βEstoniaβs population is, I believe, 1.3 million people. The Russian army, just the Russian army, numbers 1.535 million. And Estoniaβs 1.3 million includes everyone, from babies to the elderly.β
βIt is complete nonsense, utter absurdity. But unfortunately, these are the kinds of people we have to deal with today.β