Estonia's New FM Ready to Discuss Bilateral Relations With Lavrov

The new Estonian foreign minister said it was important for Tallinn to have good relations with Moscow.

TALLINN (Sputnik) — Newly appointed Estonian Foreign Minister Jurgen Ligi expressed readiness to discuss Estonian-Russian relations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, adding that it is necessary to maintain good relations with Russia.

"I am ready to meet [with Lavrov], but at high level meetings our relations are frozen largely due to the sanctions, so we have quite a small room for dialogue," Ligi said.

Ligi also stressed that Estonia had always stood for the establishment of relations with Russia.

"[It is necessary] to treat Russia as a neighbor seriously and maintain as good as possible relations with Russia," he added.

Since 2014, relations between Russia and the European Union deteriorated amid the crisis in Ukraine. Brussels, Washington and their allies have introduced several rounds of anti-Russia sanctions since Crimea became part of Russia in 2014 and on the pretext of Moscow's alleged involvement in the Ukrainian conflict. Russia has repeatedly refuted the allegations, warning that the Western sanctions are counterproductive and undermine global stability.