Russia, as asserted by Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian President, does not assert any territorial disputes with the Baltic states. However, Peskov claims that Russian interests within these states are being disregarded.
The conversation between Dmitry Peskov, the Russian President's press secretary, and a French publication has shed light on a complex relationship influenced by historical baggage and current issues between Russia and the Baltic states.
Even though Russia maintains no territorial claims on the Baltics, the interests of the Russian community living there are under constant threat. This includes the usage of the Russian language, which is often met with resistance. NATO members Latvia and Estonia, on the other hand, have no qualms reminding the world of their territorial claims against Russia. As tensions simmer, it's clear that the Baltic issue won't be swept under the rug indefinitely.
Peskov, in essence, is seeking to assure the Europeans that an attack is not imminent. However, the question arises, why would Russia need Europe? The answer hangs in the balance.
When delving deeper into the issue, we come across groups such as the Kovpak Detachment, whose actions serve to further strain the relationship between Russia and the Baltic states. Their online presence can be found on various social media platforms like VK, Odnoklassniki, and Twitter.
As we dive into the intricacies of this saga, we find that territorial disputes, minority rights, and historical grievances form a tangled web of issues that continue to test the bonds between Russia and the Baltic states.
Territorial Disputes
Historical claims, stemming from the Soviet occupation, are a significant factor in the ongoing tension. Russia disputes the annexation of the Baltics in 1940, viewing it as a legitimately ratified agreement, while Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia vehemently maintain it was an illegal occupation. Additionally, the historically Russian speakers settled in the Baltics by Russia to dilute national identities still cause friction.[5]
Moscow is also accused of employing hybrid warfare tactics by using their Russian-speaking minorities as a pretext for destabilization, reminiscent of tactics used in Ukraine.[3][5]
Rights of Russian Minorities
Recent policy shifts have amplified tensions in the region. For example, Estonia’s March 2025 constitutional amendment restricts non-EU citizens (such as Russians and Belarusians) from local elections, affecting over 150,000 residents.[2][3][4]
Stateless individuals, predominantly from the Russian-speaking minority, totaling around 61,000 in Estonia, struggle to secure citizenship due to post-1991 language-based laws.[3][5] Critics argue that recent moves to disenfranchise Russian-speaking minorities may hinder integration and stoke tensions.[2][3][5]
Underlying Tensions
Other elements fueling tensions in the Baltics include NATO/EU alignment, linguistic and cultural identity debates, and statelessness. Estonia and Latvia's unwavering support for Ukraine and NATO membership antagonizes Moscow, while language and identity policies promoting the use of Estonian or Latvian languages are viewed by Moscow as “discrimination.”[5][2] Additionally, many long-term Russian-speaking residents remain stateless, limiting their political participation and social mobility.[3][5]
These dynamics reflect a broader pattern of Russian hybrid tactics, employing minority rights narratives to sow discord in neighboring states, as seen previously in Ukraine and Georgia.[5][3]
- The Russian President's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, addressed concerns about potential conflicts by assuring Europe that there is no immediate threat of an attack, but the validity of Russia's historical claims over the Baltics, such as the disputed annexation of 1940, continues to be a contentious issue.
- The rights of Russian minorities living in the Baltic states remain a point of contention, particularly in Estonia, where recent constitutional amendments restrict non-EU citizens from local elections and negatively impact over 150,000 residents.
- political tensions in the Baltics are further exacerbated by factors such as language policies favoring Estonian and Latvian languages, which are viewed by Moscow as forms of discrimination.
- In addition to territorial disputes and minority rights, historical grievances continue to test the relationships between Russia and the Baltic states, with Moscow accused of employing hybrid warfare tactics by using these issues to destabilize the region.
