You're reading: Estonia doesn’t feel pressure from Russia over Eastern Partnership program

Tallinn - Estonia is against third countries' interference in the planned signing of an association and free trade agreement between Ukraine and the European Union in Vilnius. 

“Each country has the right to decide on its own which agreements it wants to sign and with whom,” Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said during an interview with Interfax.

Russia’s reaction to the upcoming signing of an agreement between the EU and Ukraine cannot be explained by trade and economic reasons alone, he said.

“The motives are clearly different and they do not have to do exclusively with trade and economic development issues,” he said.

“I wish the division of the world into geopolitical spheres of influence remained in the 20th century. Those living in the 21st century must not look at the world in the old way: one of us – one of them,” he said.

“The most recent example is Lithuania. But no fresh developments can be seen here and will hopefully not be seen. Really, Russia is a new member of the World Trade Organization and it abides by this organization’s principles,” he said.

Problems that have arisen in Lithuania’s trade with Russia will hopefully not develop further, Paet said.

Estonia has some trade-related questions for Russia, but they are not linked to the signing of the association agreement between Ukraine and the EU – for instance, disputes over the export of cattle in live weight that have lasted for about a year or even longer,” he said. “Estonia also has questions on taxes when used cars are sold,” Paet said.