"Russian journalists have asked me under what circumstances I would visit Russia. I've said that when the Estonian-Russian border treaty is ratified, then I'll certainly go and say thanks for that," President Kaljulaid said in an interview with daily Eesti Päevaleht in October last year.

Mikser quoted the president to Interfax, adding that the agreement reached with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in 2014 had been that both sides would ratify the treaty at the same time. While in the Riigikogu the treaty had passed its first reading, the Russian State Duma still hasn't made it that far, Mikser pointed out.

"We've managed the past 26 years without this treaty, and of course we'll manage in the future as well, but in the interest of good neighborly relations and also from the point of view of international law, getting it ratified would be sensible," Mikser told Interfax.

The foreign minister added that he is convinced that a confirmation of the treaty followed by the proper marking of the border is also in Russia's interest, which is why he assumes that the State Duma will eventually take the necessary steps.