The Estonian government made a significant decision to terminate the agreement with Russia. Citing the Kremlin’s aggression against Ukraine as the primary reason Estonia severed its education ties with Russia. The move, reported by Postimees, is a direct response to Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, which have been widely condemned as violations of international law, including the UN Charter.
Postimees highlighted that the termination of the agreement signifies the formal end of educational cooperation with Russia, a relationship that had effectively ceased around two years ago. The decision underscores Estonia’s stance against Russia’s actions and its commitment to supporting Ukraine.
What is Postimees?
Postimees is one of the largest newspapers in Estonia. It was founded in 1857 and has a long history of providing news and information to the Estonian public. The newspaper covers a wide range of topics, including politics, business, culture, and sports, both from Estonia and around the world. Postimees has a significant online presence, with its website serving as a major source of news for Estonian readers.
Ending Education Ties
The procedure for terminating the agreement involves notifying the other party no later than six months before the end of the five-year term. The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will send the necessary notification, and the agreement will officially expire on November 19 of this year.
Estonia’s position on Russia has been clear since the early days of the conflict in Ukraine, with the country actively supporting Ukraine and advocating for strong sanctions against Russia.
Earlier Estonia Ended Judicial Treaty
The Estonian government has been progressively reducing its ties with Russia, with recent actions including President Alar Karis signing a law denouncing the treaty on legal assistance between Estonia and Russia.
The explanatory note to the law states that bilateral relations between Estonia and Russia should be preserved only to the extent necessary. At the same time, the possibility of cooperation with Russia in civil, family and criminal cases will be preserved, and in the future, the rules of private international law and international conventions will be used to resolve them.
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Even before cutting the education ties, Russia and Estonia relations were always strained. Previously, Russia has declared Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and officials from other eastern European nations as “wanted” over their efforts to remove Soviet-era war memorials in their countries.
In 2023, Russia, and Estonia expelled ambassadors and termed the bilateral relations as ‘destroyed’ relations before Estonia cut its education ties.
Estonia’s military leadership has internally mulled over sending troops to western Ukraine to engage in non-combat support roles, aiming to bolster Kyiv’s efforts against Russian aggression. This revelation, shared by the Baltic nation’s chief of defence, Gen. Martin Herem, underscores the delicate geopolitical balancing act confronting the tiny nation as it navigates the fraught terrain between supporting a fellow democracy and avoiding direct military confrontation with a nuclear-armed neighbour.
The idea of foreign troops on Ukrainian soil, however, remains highly contentious. France’s President Macron recently faced pushback from both Russia and European allies after suggesting it should not be ruled out.
The termination of the education ties is a significant diplomatic move by Estonia. Additionally, its military leadership is also considering armed support signalling its solidarity with Ukraine and its condemnation of Russia’s actions. It also reflects Estonia’s broader strategy of distancing itself from Russia and aligning more closely with Western allies in response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
