Estonia’s government plans to supply Ukraine with additional weaponry, particularly anti-tank and anti-tank weapons, to help it in its war with Russia, Tallinn announced on Thursday. The Baltic state, a member of both the EU and NATO, will also support a British initiative to expand the training of members of the Ukrainian armed forces, while […]
Tag: Estonia
Estonia removes all Soviet monuments from the Russian-speaking city of Narva
Estonia has decided to remove all Soviet monuments from the Russian-speaking city of Narva, the country’s government announced today, citing rising tensions in the city and accusing Russia of trying to exploit the past to divide Estonian society. Estonia, once part of the Soviet Union, is a member of the European Union and NATO and […]
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is hurting the Baltic countries’ relations with China
China’s refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine played a role in Estonia’s decision to leave the 16+1 initiative, the Baltic country’s top diplomat said. “It was definitely a factor we had in mind when we made the decision. Before that, we consulted with a number of allies,” Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said in an […]
Latvia and Estonia, after Lithuania, left the Eastern European Cooperation ’17+1′ with China
Latvia and Estonia followed Lithuania’s lead and abandoned the “16+1” platform of the Eastern European Partnership with China, which had been seen as a threat to the European Union’s unity in relations with the world’s second largest national economy. The specific format was created in 2012 between Eastern European countries and China, in order for […]
Estonia blocks student visas for Russians
Estonia announced today that it will prevent Russian nationals from obtaining temporary residence permits or study visas in Estonia. “Maintaining sanctions against Russia is necessary to ensure relentless pressure on that country,” Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said in a statement. “If the sanctions help end Russian aggression, it will have a positive effect on our […]
ECB should start with 0.25% interest rate hike, says Estonian central banker
The European Central Bank should stick to its plan to start tightening monetary policy by raising interest rates by just 0.25%, said Madis Muller, the policymaker whose country has the euro zone’s highest inflation. In particular, as reported by Bloomberg, contrary to the calls of his colleagues from other Baltic countries to consider a 0.5% […]
Russia’s neighbors are calling for reinforcements of NATO forces
Everything changed when Russia invaded Ukraine, and NATO’s defense strategy must now take into account the new security environment in eastern Europe. This is the coordinated message of the three Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, in view of the very important NATO summit in Madrid this week, as noted by CNBC Strengthening the defense […]
Estonia has completed the first part of a wall on its border with Russia
Estonian authorities have completed the first phase of fortifications on the country’s border with Russia, according to police and the Baltic state’s border guard. The 23.5km section of the wall in the southeastern part of the EU and NATO member state was completed yesterday, Thursday, a year before the deadline. Video distributed by the border […]
Estonia demands explanation from Russian ambassador over Putin’s comments
The Estonian Foreign Ministry has summoned Russia’s ambassador to Russia to comment on remarks made by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday about the history of the Baltic state. Among other things, the president of Russia referred in his speech to the conquest of the city of Narva in the 18th century. The Estonian Foreign […]
Estonia: The ruling coalition collapsed
Estonia’s ruling coalition collapsed today after center-right Prime Minister Kaya Kalas ousted seven center-left ministers after disagreements over welfare policy. President Alar Karis has accepted Prime Minister Kalas’s request for the removal of the seven ministers, according to a statement from the Estonian presidency. Until the formation of a new coalition, executives of the ruling […]