Russia bans Estonian fish and dairy imports

(Vatican Radio) Estonia is facing economic difficulties as neighbouring Russia, one of its biggest trading partners, has banned the import of Estonian fish and dairy products.

The ban is the latest stand-off in a turbulent relationship between the countries. Moscow claims the import ban follows several quality problems with Estonian food products. While Russia has in the past denied these kind of measures are politically motivated, the latest import ban comes amid tensions with Baltic nations and other European Union member states over Ukraine.

In a recent interview on British television, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves made clear that despite Russian pressure to join a Russian-led Customs Union, many demonstrating Ukrainians want to have closer ties with the EU. "Their problems are not going away simply by saying no and giving in to the kinds of pressure they have been under. And the other side of this is that it has become quite clear from the demonstrations that a substantial percentage of the Ukrainians really would like to develop the kind of relationship with the EU that the others will be getting", he said. "And they want to have visa-free travel to the European Union. People are far more upset in fact than I and many of us thought they would be", the president added.

These aren't the only disputes between the two neighbors. In 2008, Estonians accused Russia of using trade sanctions to punish its former Soviet satellite state, after the capital Tallinn faced demonstrations following the relocation of a Soviet war memorial. Estonian officials alleged that Moscow influenced the riots and a later cyber war which temporarily shut down Estonian government and business websites. Russia denied any involvement.

Listen to Stefan Bos' report: