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Estonia–Ukraine relations

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Estonia–Ukraine relations
Map indicating locations of Estonia and Ukraine

Estonia
Ukraine

Estonia and Ukraine established diplomatic relations on 4 January 1992.[1] Relations between the two countries have remained consistently close, largely in part due to shared concerns of any aspirations of the Russian Federation. Estonia is a member of the European Union, which Ukraine applied for in 2022. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe.

History

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid meet during a state visit in 2019.

Estonia and the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic recognized each other with an agreement signed on November 25, 1921.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the two countries re-recognized each other on August 26, 1991. Bilateral diplomatic relations between the two countries were re-established on January 4, 1992. An agreement on cooperation between Ukraine and Estonia was signed on May 26, 1992.[1][2]

Russian Invasion of Ukraine

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A damaged Russian T-72 tank was transported to Tallinn from Kyiv in late February 2023. The tank was put on display in Freedom Square, Tallinn[3]

After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine started, Estonia, as one of the EU countries, imposed sanctions on Russia, and Russia added all EU countries to the list of "unfriendly nations".[4] Estonia joined other countries in spring 2022 in declaring a number of Russian diplomats Persona non grata. Estonia also introduced a ban on Russian language media channels.[5]

In September 2022, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia decided to close entry for Russian citizens with Schengen visas, including those issued by third countries.[6]

On 18 October 2022, the Estonian parliament voted in favour of officially recognizing Russia as a terrorist state. The Riigikogu also called on the international community to adopt a similar position.[7][8]

On 6 December 2022, Vadim Konoshchenok, a suspected FSB officer was arrested at the border with high tech electronic items and ammunition sourced in the US, additional goods were found in a warehouse Konoshchenok was renting. The USA sought his extradition,[9] which was granted and actioned in July 2023.[10]

In January 2023, Estonian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mihkel Tamm announced Estonia's intention to seize $21.4 million in Russian assets in Estonia and deliver it to Ukraine. Estonia is working with European Commission on plans to seize Russian assets frozen in the European Union which are estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars.[11]

Estonia announced the expulsion of 21 Russian diplomats and technical staff in January 2023 and encouraged other European Union countries to follow suit.[12] In response, Russia responded by downgrading its relations with Estonia and expelling the Estonian ambassador Margus Laidre; Estonia responded in kind.[13]

Prime Minister Kaja Kallas called Russia a "threat to the whole of Europe".[14] Riigikogu, the parliament of Estonia, also passed two statements on the mobilization of Russia's pre-invasion forces and the start of the attack against Ukraine in 2022, in which it expressed support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine and condemned the war started by the Russian Federation.[15][16]

Estonia voted in favor of United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-11/1. The resolution deplored Russia's invasion of Ukraine and demanded a full withdrawal of Russian forces and a reversal of its decision to recognise the self-declared People's Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.[17]

As of May 2023, 130,000 Ukrainians entered Estonia as a result of the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with 71,000 currently living in Estonia.[1] Around 200-300 Ukrainians apply for asylum in Estonia per week.[18]

Estonia has sent the most aid to Ukraine per capita, around 0.8% of Estonia's GDP in 2 months,[19] and 1.5% of its GDP as of 14 December 2023.[20]

On 11 January 2024, Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Tallinn, Estonia, after he began a tour of the Baltic States.[21] Zelenskyy met with Estonian political leaders and addressed the Estonian parliament with a speech expressing gratitude for the Estonian government's and people's support and aid for Ukraine.[22][23] After Zelenskyy's visit, the President of Estonia, Alar Karis pledged to allocate 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) worth of aid for Ukraine until 2027.[24]

Resident diplomatic missions

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  • Embassy of Estonia in Kyiv
    Embassy of Estonia in Kyiv
  • Embassy of Ukraine in Tallinn
    Embassy of Ukraine in Tallinn

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "European countries". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Estonia-Ukraine Relations". Välisministeerium (Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Archived from the original on 2 July 2017.
  3. ^ ERR, ERR | (2023-03-02). "Captured Russian tank moved from Tallinn's Freedom Square". ERR. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  4. ^ Lee, Michael (8 March 2020). "Here are the nations on Russia's 'unfriendly countries' list". CTV News.
  5. ^ "Russian info channels in Estonia viewed, trusted far less than year ago". 9 March 2023.
  6. ^ Manning, Joshua (8 September 2022). ""You are not welcome here!" Estonia restricts entry of Russian citizens from September 19". Euro Weekly News. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Estonian parliament declares Russia a terrorist state". 18 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Estonian Lawmakers Declare Russia 'Terrorist Regime' over Ukraine Actions". Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty.
  9. ^ "Five Russian Nationals, Including Suspected FSB Officer, and Two U.S. Nationals Charged with Helping the Russian Military and Intelligence Agencies Evade Sanctions". 13 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Estonia extradites to US employee of FSB who smuggled military equipment". 14 July 2023.
  11. ^ Tammik, O. (January 10, 2023), "Estonia Announces Plan To Seize Russian Assets And Deliver Them To Ukraine", Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Bloomberg News, retrieved 12 January 2023
  12. ^ Reuters (January 11, 2023), "Estonia tells Russia to reduce number of diplomats in Tallinn", Reuters News, retrieved 12 January 2023
  13. ^ "Russia expels Estonia ambassador amid 'destroyed' relations". AP NEWS. 2023-01-23. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  14. ^ Lendon, Brad; Cotovio, Vasco (24 February 2022). Written at Seoul and Moscow. "Poland and Baltic countries trigger consultations under NATO article 4". Atlanta: CNN. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said Russia's invasion of Ukraine represented a 'threat to the whole of Europe,' the Estonian government said in a statement on Thursday.
  15. ^ "Riigikogu avaldus "Ukraina territoriaalse terviklikkuse toetuseks" 501 AE". Riigikogu (in Estonian). Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  16. ^ "Riigikogu avaldus "Venemaa Föderatsiooni agressioonist Ukraina vastu" 535 AE". www.riigikogu.ee.
  17. ^ "Ukraine: UN General Assembly condemns invasion as Russia reports gains". Deutsche Welle. 2 March 2022. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  18. ^ Desku, Arta (2023-04-14). "More Ukrainians Are Arriving in Estonia Than Leaving". SchengenVisaInfo.com. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  19. ^ Hankewitz, Sten (2022-04-19). "Per GDP, Estonia has donated far more to Ukraine than any other nation". Estonian World. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  20. ^ World, Estonian (2023-12-14). "Updates: Russia's war against Ukraine – reactions in Estonia". Estonian World. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  21. ^ "Zelensky arrives in Estonia as tour of Baltic states continues". The Kyiv Independent. 2024-01-11. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  22. ^ Tambur, Silver (2024-01-11). "Pictures and video: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in Estonia". Estonian World. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  23. ^ "President of Ukraine met with the Prime Minister of Estonia in Tallinn". President of Ukraine. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  24. ^ "Estonia pledges $1.3 billion in long-term support for Kyiv as Zelensky tours Baltics". The Kyiv Independent. 2024-01-11. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
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