Estonian minister: Russia's behavior unchanged 87 years after Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna marked Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact memorial day by saying Russia is still trying to redraw Europe's borders according to imperial ambitions. He called for continued international isolation of Russia and unwavering support for Ukraine.
Sunday, August 23, marks 87 years since the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, whose secret protocols divided Europe, including Estonia, into spheres of influence and opened the way for the occupation of independent states.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200) said that Russia, as the successor state to the Soviet Union, has changed little since then. He stated that Russia continues trying to redraw Europe's borders in line with its imperial ambitions, and that its refusal to accept the Soviet collapse lies at the root of the ongoing war against Ukraine. Tsahkna expressed confidence that, just as the Soviet Union ultimately failed to reshape Europe's balance of power under the pact's secret protocol, Russia's current attempt to restore its sphere of influence will also fail.
Legacy of occupation
The minister noted that the pact, built on lies and cynical geopolitics, triggered nearly 50 years of Baltic occupation along with the repression, deportation and imprisonment of tens of thousands of people. Although the Baltic Way protest exposed the secret protocol 37 years ago and helped restore independence, he said the consequences of those repressions are still felt in almost every Estonian family.
Tsahkna said the memorial day honors all who suffered under crimes of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, pointing to Ukraine's ongoing struggle against invasion. He described the so-called 'special military operation' as having turned into a costly five-year war, noting the front line has stalled while Ukraine's recent strikes on Russian infrastructure have created strategic momentum.
The minister added that international sanctions are visibly straining Russia's economy, that internal tensions are growing, and that Putin appears increasingly anxious. He argued that as long as Moscow refuses to abandon its goals, Russia's international isolation must be maintained and support for Ukraine must remain steady, since aggression tends to recur when it goes unpunished.
