1 November 2026 marks my final day as Secretary General of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I leave with mixed emotions. Some melancholy, certainly. But above all, pride. Pride in what we have achieved, in the results we have delivered, and in the extraordinary team with whom I have had the privilege of working. From reinvigorating Estonian diplomacy despite the constraints of the pandemic to developing the strategy — and tactics — for countering Russian aggression, we have accomplished a lot. There were times when all of Europe was singing from our songbook. Not by accident or coincidence, but because the ideas and policy objectives we developed stood the test of scrutiny beyond Estonia. And because we had the skill and courage to shape the debate and set the agenda, even when the stakes — and the risks — were high. Alongside shaping policy, we also built something equally important: the institution itself. Today, the Foreign Ministry is among Estonia’s most dedicated public institutions. A place where people want to work — and stay. That is no small achievement. Professional diplomatic services are notoriously difficult organisations to manage, regardless of country. Constant rotation, changing teams and shifting responsibilities make leadership a particular challenge. I am therefore especially pleased that our colleagues have given the Ministry increasingly positive ratings in successive internal satisfaction surveys. I am equally proud that we have achieved near-perfect gender balance in our leadership. Proof that when we focus on getting things done rather than finding excuses, remarkable things are possible. Compared with six years ago, Estonian diplomacy now stands on a far more sustainable organisational, financial and technological footing. We have expanded our embassy network, purchased and renovated properties, and increasingly moved from renting to owning. Our embassies, residences and, with some qualifications, our headquarters now serve our diplomats better and tell Estonia’s story to the world. Our newest embassies are genuinely world-class, both in design and functionality. But diplomacy has never been confined to offices, conference rooms or embassy walls. Nor should it be. The photographs accompanying this post offer a glimpse of just how much of our work has taken place beyond them.

At least 17 people have been killed in Russia's latest attacks on Ukrainian cities, including two 15-year-old girls. In Dnipro, Russian drones struck a railway station, hitting a platform where a commuter train and a scheduled passenger train were standing. At least 13 people were killed and 10 others injured. In Chernihiv, Russia struck the city centre in broad daylight, when the streets were busy with people. Two 15-year-old girls were killed, and at least nine other people were injured, including children. Homes, businesses, and cars were damaged. In Kremenchuk, Poltava region, a Russian drone hit a residential apartment building, killing two people and injuring nine, including two children. In Zaporizhzhia, an FPV drone struck a minibus in the city centre, injuring one person. Russia also attacked a poultry farm in the Kyiv region, where approximately 16,000 birds were kept. These are ordinary places where people live, work, and travel. Russia continues to attack them, killing civilians and putting more lives at risk. Russia is not de-escalating its war against Ukraine. Easing sanctions while these attacks continue only weakens pressure on the aggressor. Stronger sanctions against Russia's energy sector and war machine are needed to stop its aggression.

As Russia continues its daily attacks on Ukraine’s economy, energy and critical infrastructure, the Ukraine Recovery Conference #URC2027# in Tallinn on 28–29 January will shift its focus from recovery to resilience. The goal is to mobilise urgent international support, secure concrete financial commitments and deliver practical solutions to help Ukraine withstand this winter. A joint statement by the governments of Estonia and Ukraine ⤵️

Romanian authorities have exposed a sabotage network coordinated by the Russian Federation behind the September 14th arson attack at the Carfil industrial platform in Brașov/Romania near a defense industry manufacturer. This is part of a broader campaign of sabotage across Europe, targeting also defense production. Hybrid attacks will not hold us back from strengthening our resilience and defence.

Russia is preparing for war in Europe, and they continue to be issued visas. Spanish police have arrested a former Russian soldier after discovering an illegal weapons operation in Catalonia, near the French border. Investigators uncovered a concealed workshop inside a rented warehouse in Figueres, approximately 25 kilometers from France. The facility contained 644 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, silencers and weapons components. The seized arsenal is estimated to be worth €5 million.