Estonia says ‘prepared’ to close Russia border

Estonia said Wednesday (29 November) it was “prepared” to close its border with Russia following a similar move by Finland, with Tallinn citing a potential threat by its eastern neighbour.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the situation on Finland’s border, which has seen a surge in undocumented migrants in recent weeks, was “a blatant hybrid attack conducted by Russia”.

According to the statement by Estonian foreign ministry, Tsahkna added the Baltic state is “prepared to close its border with Russia and defend itself against any hybrid attacks”.

Estonia, a former Soviet republic, is now a EU and NATO member and a staunch supporter of Ukraine as Kyiv fights off Russian invasion.

“It is yet more proof that Russia is not fighting only in Ukraine; instead it poses a threat to other countries with its hybrid attacks,” Tsahkna said of the situation in Finland as he participated in the Baltic and Nordic ministers talks in Brussels.

The statement by the Estonian government added that the ministers said at the meeting they were prepared to help Helsinki if necessary.

Finland which shares a 1,340-kilometre border with Russia, last week shut all but one of its border posts to travellers from Russia, keeping open only the northernmost crossing located in the Arctic. But this too would now close, the government said on Tuesday.

The Finnish and Estonian borders with Russia are both the European Union’s and NATO’s external borders.

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