All articles tagged with #estonia
Two unidentified drones crashed on Finnish territory near Kouvola in a suspected territorial violation; security authorities were dispatched and an F/A-18 was used for identification, with one drone north of Kouvola and the other east of it, as investigators probe the incident and Baltic neighbours report similar drone incidents.
Estonia and Latvia reported drones briefly crossing into NATO airspace amid Russia's large daytime drone assault on Ukraine; authorities later said the drones were Ukrainian and entered NATO airspace by mistake during Ukraine's counterattack, with one drone hitting a power-station chimney in Estonia and another crashing in Latvia with no damage, as Ukraine faced strikes on Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk and urged Europe to bolster air defenses.
Estonia’s defense minister Hanno Pevkur said Tallinn is open to discussing possible U.S. help in securing the Strait of Hormuz, potentially using Estonia’s demining expertise, but only if a ceasefire is in place and there has been no formal U.S. request yet. The White House has urged allies to assist after Iran attacked tanker traffic, but several partners have declined or shown cautious responses, highlighting ongoing unity challenges within NATO/EU as leaders weigh broader security moves, including Ukraine peace talks in exchanges with Western powers.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal criticized Viktor Orbán for blocking the EU’s €90 billion loan to Ukraine, saying the EU should lift Hungary’s veto and deliver the aid. He framed the issue in terms of European security and the broader tensions with Russia, noted the Druzhba pipeline damage, and highlighted ongoing debates about EU decision‑making and potential ties with non‑EU partners amid Hungary’s election period.
Estonia’s Narva, a 50,000‑strong border town split from Russia by the Narva River, has fortified its Friendship Bridge with razor wire and anti‑tank obstacles, closed crossings, and heightened security as Tallinn braces for potential Moscow threats in the wake of the Ukraine war, amid tensions over Russia‑speaking residents and questions of loyalty.
Estonia's Prime Minister Kristen Michal says President Alar Karis' suggestion that Ukraine cede territory to Russia clashes with Estonia's core values and long-standing support for Ukraine. He emphasizes that pressure on Russia—not concessions to Putin—forms the basis of Estonia's foreign policy, with EU and US involvement at the table. Ministers Kristina Kallas and Liisa Pakosta backed a firm stance against yielding to Moscow and urged clarifications from Karis' office on his comments; Karis' remarks prompted wider discussion about how Estonia's policy is applied across government and parliament.
Estonia will shut the Luhamaa and Koidula road border crossings at night for three months from Feb. 24 to free resources for border security, with 12 hours of daytime operation and continued customs control toward Russia. The move comes after a pattern of incidents involving Russian border guards, including navigational buoy removals, airspace incursions, and armed personnel near Estonian territory, and follows a long-term drop in cross-border traffic since 2018 (Narva has been closed at night since 2024).
Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna warns that, after any Ukraine ceasefire, Russia could deploy hundreds of thousands of former soldiers and even ex-prisoners to wage hybrid warfare in Europe, urging an EU-wide ban on former Russian combatants from Schengen and inviting the UK to join the plan to bolster European security.
Estonia's foreign minister Margus Tsahkna warned that Putin could deploy hundreds of thousands of ex‑soldiers (and other convicts) to wage hybrid warfare in Europe following any Ukraine ceasefire, urging an EU‑wide ban on former Russian combatants from Schengen and inviting UK participation to bolster border security.
Spotify will raise its Premium plan price from $11.99 to $12.99 per month in the United States, with the increase also applying to Estonia and Latvia; the company says the change reflects the value it delivers and helps support artists, as investors note the stock has fallen amid restructuring and leadership shifts toward co-CEOs.
Estonia banned 261 Russians who fought in Ukraine from entering the country, saying those with combat experience and potential war-crime histories pose a security risk; officials say the move is the first step toward a Europe-wide visa ban on Russian veterans and has been welcomed by Ukraine as a security measure.
Authorities are investigating damage to a critical undersea telecommunications cable between Finland and Estonia in the Gulf of Finland, with Finnish authorities seizing a vessel suspected of causing the damage, and cooperation ongoing between Finnish and Estonian officials.
Estonia's spy chief states that Russia currently has no intention to attack Baltic countries or NATO, noting that Russia has adjusted its behavior in response to Western and NATO actions, and emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong defense and alliances to ensure regional security amidst ongoing tensions and hybrid threats.
Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated that the country would respond with lethal force if Russian soldiers, referred to as 'little green men,' cross into Estonian territory again, citing past incidents and ongoing monitoring of border activities amid heightened tensions with Russia.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna warned that Russia's unmarked soldiers, known as 'little green men,' attempting to breach Estonia's border would be met with deadly force, signaling a strong stance amid ongoing border tensions with Russia.