[Asia Economy Reporter Seo Mideum] Russia has expelled the Estonian ambassador to Russia, citing hostility expressed towards Russia, AFP news agency reported, quoting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the report, Russia expelled Margus Reidar, the Estonian ambassador to Russia, marking the first time a European Union (EU) member state ambassador has been expelled.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Ambassador Reidar must leave the Russian Federation by the 7th of next month," explaining that this was due to Estonia fostering complete Russophobia and hostility towards our country. It is speculated that Estonia’s recent call to the Western bloc for heavy weapon support to Ukraine influenced this decision.
Earlier, Estonia issued a statement pressuring Germany, which had hesitated to approve the recent plan to provide its main battle tank Leopard 2 to Ukraine, saying, "We request that tanks be provided to Ukraine immediately. Germany has a special responsibility as the leader of Europe."
Estonia, along with Latvia and Lithuania, forms the Baltic States, sharing a border with Russia, and has called for a united and firm Western response against Russia. The Baltic States expelled Russian diplomats in March last year, at the early stage of the conflict.
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