Sergei Lavrov: EU’s foreign policy is being Estonised

Russian Federation Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov aimed to belittle changes in the leadership of the European Union by describing it with the term “Estonisation.” However, Lavrov’s expression of displeasure upon Kaja Kallas being appointed as the EU’s High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy was interpreted as a compliment to Estonia and personally to Kallas.

“It’s the Estonisation of the European Union, and it’s sad,” Lavrov said shortly before the European Council officially nominated Kallas for the high foreign affairs position.

Kristi Raik, Deputy Director of the International Centre for Defence and Security in Tallinn, commented on this statement by Lavrov:

Lavrov has launched a new concept: Estonisation of EU foreign policy. I would define it as the EU pushing back Russian aggression and defending the sovereignty of Russia’s neighbors. Not bad, except for the Kremlin that equals such policy with Russophobia.

The selection of Kaja Kallas and other new top leaders in the European Union received significant attention in the Russian media, which typically relied on statements from two Kremlin spokespeople.

The official stance on the new EU leaders was expressed by President’s spokesperson Dmitri Peskov, who stated that such choices do not improve Russia’s relations with the European Union.

According to Kremlin communication strategy, the same assessment was reiterated in a forceful, if not crude, manner by Russia’s Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev. Medvedev stated that Prime Minister Kallas embodies “Atomic russophobia and endless greed.”

Medvedev wrote that Kallas’s husband, Arvo Hallik, who managed a transportation company, “conducted very profitable business with Russian companies while his wife hysterically screamed about the looming Russian threat throughout the country.”

In addition, Medvedev criticized Kaja Kallas for her “Nazi-like” idea that the right to visit Europe is not a right but a privilege (for Russian citizens).

With equal vigor, Medvedev spoke negatively about European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO’s new leader Mark Rutte. He referred to them as a “wonderful trinity,” with von der Leyen being a “bad-tempered political denier” and Rutte fiercely hating Russia.

“I wish all the newly appointed people the best! Translated from diplomatic language, this means wishing them maximum failure and encountering monstrous problems in carrying out their extensive powers! We will help you with this in every possible way!” Medvedev exclaimed.

The news agency TASS presented Kaja Kallas’s new position to its readers as a betrayal of Estonian voters. “Kaja Kallas, who previously repeatedly announced her intention to continue as Prime Minister until the end of her four-year term, has once again deceived her people by agreeing to take on the position of the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs,” wrote TASS.

For a comprehensive overview of Russian media coverage, one can find detailed information on Propamonist.