You're reading: Diplomat: Estonia’s Russian-speaking community orientated to West

Estonia's Russian-speaking citizens, unlike residents of Ukraine's southeastern regions, are mostly orientated towards Western values, said Estonian Ambassador to Ukraine Sulev Kannike.

“There are not only Russians, but also a Russian-speaking community in Estonia, who account for about 20% of the population. But the main difference is that this community, especially its younger generation, has gone pro-Western over the past 20 years, and its mentality and opinions have changed,” he said at a press briefing on Saturday.

“I’m not saying that all of them are Estonia’s patriots, but their vector is definitely orientated towards Paris and Berlin,” Kannike said.